November 8, 2004
By Ndaba Dlamini
THE City of Johannesburg's outer boundaries are set to be adjusted after Council approved proposals to address boundary anomalies identified by the Demarcation Board, a national body that determines the outer boundaries of metropolitan, local and district municipalities.
The move comes after the Demarcation Board submitted 31 queries to the City of Johannesburg in April 2003, regarding possible boundary re-determinations. In line with the Demarcation Act of 1998, discussions were held early this year with affected municipalities, demarcation officials and mayoral committee members - councillors Parks Tau and Thomas Phakathi.
Of the 31 queries submitted, 16 were seen as "minor amendments that can be supported without further investigations, due to existing boundary lines not following cadastral or township boundaries and lines, as well as inaccurate assumptions by the Demarcation Board," according to a report by the City's Department of Development Planning and Facilitation.
A consultative meeting between the City of Johannesburg and affected municipalities to discuss the 15 remaining queries drew up a list of proposed boundary realignments which were submitted to the City of Johannesburg Mayoral Committee for approval on 9 August 2004.
"In some instances, there was no agreement during the proposal discussions, but the Demarcation Board will make the final decisions," explains Busi Mhaga, assistant director in the department.
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) submitted proposals to incorporate Commercia Extension 9 and Rabie Ridge Extension 5 - two areas serviced by the City of Johannesburg - into Ekurhuleni. The proposal followed a request from the community of Commercia Extension 9, an area that includes a security village and a small shopping centre.
After consultation with Ekurhuleni, the City of Johannesburg accepted the request to incorporate Commercia Extension 9 into Ekurhuleni since "no demonstrable benefits or lack of benefits could be identified for inclusion or exclusion of the area into either municipality".
Rabie Ridge Extension 5, however, will remain under the jurisdiction of the City of Johannesburg.
However, the City of Johannesburg submitted three options to the Demarcation Board for consideration with regard to the financial implications of incorporating Commercia Extension 9 into Ekurhuleni. The total arrears account owing to the City by the township's residents is currently R 2 692 781.
The City of Joburg suggested that Ekurhuleni could either take over the total amount owed to the City, or the City could keep the arrears in its books and send monthly accounts to residents. Alternatively, Ekurhuleni could administer the affected accounts on behalf of the City.
Immediately adjacent to Rabie Ridge is Ivory Park, a township of about 196 000 people, which falls under the City of Joburg, and Tembisa, a township serviced by Ekurhuleni Municipality. The two townships are separated by the Ekurhuleni/City of Joburg boundary. The two townships, however, are under servitude, which grants residents from both sides the use of facilities in either area.
Over the years, squatter settlements have developed in both townships and these are encroaching on the boundary between the two municipalities. Each municipality, Mhaga said, agreed to deal with the relocation of squatter settlements, although servitude between the two townships would remain.
In addition to boundary anomalies submitted by the Demarcation Board, new queries were tabled by the City of Johannesburg and surrounding municipalities for consideration.
The City of Johannesburg proposed to Ekurhuleni that the boundary between the two municipalities be realigned to include Midrand Cemetery, currently being used by Joburg residents, and Strydom Land, a piece of ground adjacent to the cemetery. Both the Midrand Cemetery and Strydom Land currently fall under Ekurhuleni.
In an effort to de-densify Ivory Park, Strydom Land was identified by the Regional Professional Team (RPT), a group of consultants appointed by the provincial Department of Housing to "fast-track" housing delivery, following a feasibility study. The team proposed new townships, Site 3 and 4, to be established on Strydom Land.
A proposal from Mogale City Local Municipality to realign the boundary between Mogale City and the City of Johannesburg, however, was rejected by council, according to Mhaga. Mogale City had proposed that the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, a lucrative tourist attraction west of Johannesburg, and Lanseria Airport be incorporated into Mogale City "to strengthen economic growth through tourism development".
According to the City of Joburg, infrastructure in the Roodepoort area surrounding the Botanical Gardens has been under tremendous strain lately and is in the process of being upgraded at an estimated cost R100-million. If the area was transferred to Mogale, "a severe strain" would be imposed on the Mogale City capital budget.
Lanseria Airport, the City of Joburg contended, could remain on the Johannesburg side and both cities and the Province "can enjoy the benefits" of maximised development potential of the area, provided there is total cooperation across boundaries.
Before the Demarcation Board considers any determination or re-determination of the proposed realignment of City boundaries, the Municipal Demarcation Act of 1998 requires the Board to publish a Section 26 notice in a newspaper circulating in the areas of the affected municipalities and stating the Board's intention to consider the matter.
The Act also requires public participation and, under certain circumstances, the Board may decide to hold hearings inviting views and representations from the public within a specified period, which may not be shorter than 21 days.
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