Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Des van Rooyen said violent protests across South Africa’s townships do not mean that nothing has changed.
Van Rooyen told delegates attending the Municipal Demarcation Board’s (MDB) conference on Demarcation and Spatial Transformation that there had been much progress since the dawn of democracy in 1994.
“Ladies and gentlemen‚ I think you will agree that as our townships burn‚ it seems as if nothing in our country has changed. You would be wrong to think so‚” said Van Rooyen.
He continued: “We are not going to tell lies and claim easy victories‚ but we have registered some unprecedented victories.”
Van Rooyen’s assurances come as the country celebrates the building of 4-million RDP houses since 1994.
The minister also used his address to punt the independence of the MDB.
He said: “I am glad to say that the board has fulfilled its mandate admirably even though most decisions have not gone our way.”
He said the fact that the MDB had acceded to only 13 of the 34 boundary re-determination requests from the government was proof of the board’s independence.
Board chairperson Jane Thupana had earlier said the MDB’s functions were restricted to the functions of the law‚ adding that it was immune to political interference.
Van Rooyen also raised the issue of financially unviable municipalities‚ saying the government would continue to reduce municipalities to create financially sustainable municipal councils.
The number of municipalities‚ then called local authorities‚ were reduced from more than 1300 in the early 1990s to 278 presently.
Further reductions will see the number of municipalities drop to 257 after the August 3 local government elections. – Tiso Black Star Group Digital/The Times
Rulings against government prove Demarcation Board's independence: Van Rooyen
Van Rooyen told delegates attending the Municipal Demarcation Board’s (MDB) conference on Demarcation and Spatial Transformation that there had been much progress since the dawn of democracy in 1994.
“Ladies and gentlemen‚ I think you will agree that as our townships burn‚ it seems as if nothing in our country has changed. You would be wrong to think so‚” said Van Rooyen.
He continued: “We are not going to tell lies and claim easy victories‚ but we have registered some unprecedented victories.”
Van Rooyen’s assurances come as the country celebrates the building of 4-million RDP houses since 1994.
The minister also used his address to punt the independence of the MDB.
He said: “I am glad to say that the board has fulfilled its mandate admirably even though most decisions have not gone our way.”
He said the fact that the MDB had acceded to only 13 of the 34 boundary re-determination requests from the government was proof of the board’s independence.
Board chairperson Jane Thupana had earlier said the MDB’s functions were restricted to the functions of the law‚ adding that it was immune to political interference.
Van Rooyen also raised the issue of financially unviable municipalities‚ saying the government would continue to reduce municipalities to create financially sustainable municipal councils.
The number of municipalities‚ then called local authorities‚ were reduced from more than 1300 in the early 1990s to 278 presently.
Further reductions will see the number of municipalities drop to 257 after the August 3 local government elections. – Tiso Black Star Group Digital/The Times
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