2005-11-06,+SACP+on+demarcation+of+Merafong

04 November 2005

**Press Statement**
= **SACP DISSAPPOINTED BY THE LACK OF RESPONSE FROM GOVERNMENT ON DEMARCATION – (MERAFONG)** =

The South African Communist Party would like to make an appeal to government and all relevant parties to speedily intervene in the situation in Merafong City Municipality.

We also wish to register our disappointment in the manner in which this matter has been handled. We want to put facts as follows:

In August this year the Demarcation Board and DPLG issued statements proposing that Merafong and Westonaria should be incorporated into North West. That also called for submissions to be made by 26 September 2005 and communities, led by the SACP made those submissions.

Around 17 & 18 September 2005 the Dermacation Board and Ministry of Provincial and Local Government issued a notice, withdrawing the initial proposal to incorporate the two towns into North West. In their own words, the Demarcation Board said the **//“Submissions and motivation in terms of section 24 and 25 of the Demarcation Act, indicate overwhelming resistance to inclusion of Westonaria and the City of Merafong into the Southern District Municipality. The Board agreed with some motivations provided, and decided, in terms of section 21 (5) of the Demarcation Act, to withdraw its re – determination in Notice No. 3359 gazetted in the Gauteng Provincial Gazette No. 375 of 2 September 2005, and Notice No. 458 gazetted in North West Provincial Gazette No. 6208 of 2 September 2005. The Westonaria Local Municipality and the City of Merafong Local Municipality thus remain within the West Rand District municipality, and the boundaries of the Southern District municipality also remain unchanged”.//**

This is what made the people happy! The people feel cheated and betrayed by the new proposal, which does not even say who made new proposals, where and why. You cannot have our government taking decisions in this manner. This also puts the credibility of the DPLG and Demarcation Board in question. The Demarcation Board formally issued this new proposal on Monday, 31 October 2005. It is therefore incorrect for some individuals to say, “this is just a rumour”. If this is a rumour, then let us be told officially as to where does Merafong belong now. It’s wrong and irresponsible to mislead the communities.

It still puzzles us to see that government still shy away from addressing the genuine concerns of the people. We are calling upon all relevant stakeholders to speedily do something about the situation. We cannot have government institutions cutting and changing decisions about people in this manner.

The SACP would also want to clarify the public on the issue of the forthcoming Local Government Elections. Our formal position is that we are going to campaign for overwhelming victory of the ANC. This is what each and every member of the SACP is expected to know. However, our struggles around demarcation and Local Government Elections are two different things and must not be confused as a campaign against the ANC. At the same time we expect the ANC to provide leadership and act decisively and in the interest of the people and on time on issues like this of demarcation.

It is however disappointing to learn that Minister Mufamadi is now no longer going to come to address the people of Merafong. This is highly unbelievable.

Finally it is wrong to expect the communities not to react when they are being deliberately provoked. The communities have been too patient and selfish and greedy people took that as an advantage.

We are fully behind the peoples’ demands and we feel the matter needs to be addressed in accordance to their interests. It is our duty and obligation to lead and guide the masses particularly on genuine issues like these.

CONTACT:


 * Nkosiphendule Kolisile**


 * Dr Yusuf Dadoo District Secretary (West Rand)**


 * South African Communist Party**


 * 082 939 4035**


 * (011) 339 3621 (Tel-work)**