Mr Speaker, last Tuesday the Municipal Demarcation Board announced that it would go ahead with the merger of the Midvaal and Umfuleni Local Municipalities and Sedibeng District Municipality. This insistence by the Municipal Demarcation Board of draining through the net so as to spite the overwhelming rejection of the inheritance of Midvaal, clearly demonstrated by the more than 9 000 objections to the merger, is clear proof that the Municipal Demarcation Board has compromised any semblance of independence.
The board is fast gaining a reputation as a gerrymandering tool that acquiesces to the ANC which cannot live with the fact that a party other than itself can win elections and run a municipality. It is unacceptable that in democratic South Africa the leading party is holding onto power at all costs, even compromising the independence of institutions such as the Municipal Demarcation Board.
Studies have shown that the Midvaal Local Municipality is the best run municipality in Gauteng and has seen the fastest economic growth in the province this year. It is also the only DA-run municipality in the province. This partial and flawed decision should be totally condemned by all political parties represented in this Parliament. Thank you. [Applause.]