The chairperson of the Hoedspruit Chamber of Commerce (HCC) noted the announcement by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs requesting the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) to re-determine the boundaries of certain municipalities, including the Maruleng Municipality. The Minister's letter proposed disestablishing the Maruleng Municipality and incorporating it into the Phalaborwa and Tzaneen municipalities. While the MDB circular notified stakeholders of the boundary redetermination process, the HCC had not yet received any documentation. The chairperson emphasized the importance of meaningful public consultation as established by court precedents, and invited HCC members to participate in and provide input at the upcoming consultation meeting on

1. MEDIA STATEMENT
PHONE: +27 83 414 2796
E-MAIL: info@hoedspruitccsa.com
6 APRIL 2015
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REDETERMINATION OF MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES
POINT OF DEPARTURE
The chairperson of the HCC, Me Sarah Bergs said that the HCC take note of the
announcement by the Minister and the subsequent actions taken by the Municipal
Demarcation Board (MDB).
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE MINISTER
The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) sent out a Circular MDB CIRCULAR 2/2015:
RE-DETERMINATION OF MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES to the MEC’s responsible for
Local Government, the Speakers and Municipal Managers of affected municipalities, and
the House of Traditional Leaders in Limpopo. The MDB Circular 1/2015 provided
stakeholders with a copy of the letter received from the Minister of Cooperative
Governance and Traditional Affairs requesting the re-determination of certain municipal
boundaries.
CONTENT OF LETTER
The Minister, Pravin Gordhan, send a letter to the MDB requested that MDB re re-
determine the boundaries of certain municipalities, including the Maruleng Municipality,
with a view to optimizing their financial viability. The proposal is that the Maruleng
Municipality disestablish and incorporate in the Phalaborwa and Tzaneen municipalities.
POINT OF DEPARTURE
Me. Bergs said that the Rule of Law is the point of departure for the HCC and that
members of the HCC, as well as members of the Hoedspruit community will be
encouraged to actively participate in the process within the applicable legal framework.
The HCC will participate to ensure that the voice of business in Hoedspruit is heard and
that the process is strictly conducted within the legally prescribed process.

2. CONSULTATION
Although the chairperson of the MDB, in the said circular, requested that Municipal
Managers bring the contents of the notices to the attention to all stakeholders in the
municipal area, including to the business organizations, the HCC did not as yet received
any documentation in this regard. It is important that he legal framework provides for
public participation in this regard. The term consultation has been defined by various
courts of law such as the Constitutional Court.
PRECEDENT CREATED BY COURTS OF LAW
The court cases made it clear that communities must be consulted and heard in such a
way that they have adequate information before hand to be able to meaningfully
participate in the process.
NEXT MEETING
She said that the next consultation meeting will take place on 14th
April 2015 in the
Maruleng Hall at 10:00am. She invited all members of the HCC to attend the meeting
and provide positive input.
WHY ME AND YOU SHOULD PARTICIPATE
Me. Bergs said that for the rule of law to work as it is intended to be, consultation must
be done properly and consultation can only be done properly if communities actively
participate. She calls upon all residents of the Maruleng Municipality to engage and
participate fully in the process.
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Media and Liaison
Mrs. Marie Helm 0826832835
/media-redetermination of boundarie-maruleng.doc