The municipal delimitation of wards within eThekwini Municipality will undergo its final public consultation process with residents in 80 wards, costing ratepayers R1.4 million.

The eThekwini Governance and Human Resource Committee received a report on the upcoming municipal demarcation board’s consultations after a previous consultation process was held in June 2025.

Residents were given an opportunity to make proposals on how their wards should be configured. The MDB proposed to have these public consultation meetings organised in a sub-region format, which was six public consultative meetings instead of four as was done previously.

The intention was to eliminate logistical challenges and ensure proper and effective engagements with the relevant communities affected.

The municipality said the expenditure will cover the logistical arrangements, including venue hire, catering, and technical equipment, adding that the community will be allowed to voice their views as the shift in boundaries impacts several factors, such as resource allocation and structures, including accountability.

One of the concerns raised by the municipality was the objection lodged in relation to the Cato Ridge boundaries, where critical eThekwini infrastructure has now fallen under the Umkhambathini District Municipality.

Geoff Pullan, DA eThekwini Ward 58 councillor, expressed concern about the splitting of voting districts as it left people unaware of which ward they were living in.

He said he submitted a note to the board for consideration.

“Splitting the voting district causes hassle on voting day. For example, a husband and wife living in the same house were subjected to voting in different voting districts.”

Nthando Khuzwayo, an ANC Ward 28 councillor, encouraged all councillors to make their submissions to the board and also to rally the communities to attend the meetings.

He said he had a similar experience to Pullan, where residents living in the same block of flats voted in two different districts.

Patrick Pillay, leader of the Democratic Liberal Congress (DLC), said that many wards of Phoenix and Chatsworth were not included in the MDB public consultation, yet they were affected by the delimitation process.

“Some voting districts are literally shifted into other wards. When these maps were published for comment and public consultation, many community stakeholders and civic bodies raised their concerns in Phoenix and other suburbs. We must ensure that affected wards are not marginalised in this process,” he said.

ActionSA Councillor Saneli Zuma said that public participation is at the heart of good governance, and it allows residents to voice their concerns, contribute ideas, and hold politicians accountable for the promises made.

Zuma was concerned about the R741,000 budgeted for catering.

“If the catering cost were reduced, this event could easily cost below R1 million, allowing us to save significant funds that could be redirected to initiatives that truly enhance participation and service delivery. We must make sure the communities do not attend these sessions for meals and that they attend because they want to be heard and to see action,” Zuma added.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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