Ward Delimitation Process Completed

EThekwini Municipality and the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) held a community meeting today, 15 May, to provide an update on the 2024/25 municipal ward delimitation process.

The meeting, which was held at the Durban Botanic Gardens, was attended by residents from the wards affected by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Gazette No. 2894/1045.

Areas affected by the new delimitation include Wards 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 30, 31, 42, 47, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 72, 74, 75, 91, 107, and 108.

Executive Director in the Office of the City Manager Sipho Cele expressed appreciation that the process has been finalised.

“We are expecting one additional ward, which will bring the total number of wards to 112 in eThekwini Municipality. Residents were given an opportunity to express their views on the segmentation of wards in a manner that benefits all citizens,” said Cele.

He added that the Municipality consulted various stakeholders to ensure fair and democratic participation.

Extensive consultation and open discussions are key to implementing a fair process and ensuring that stakeholders are satisfied with the demarcation outcomes.

Addressing the meeting, MDB KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Coordinator Mthobisi Manzini said written objections from wards were considered during the delimitation process.

“We have followed all ward delimitation criteria by using voting districts as building blocks for the creation of wards,” said Manzini.

Manzini added that the process is now in the hands of the Independent Electoral Commission, which will educate residents from affected wards and begin preparations for the upcoming Local Government Elections in November.

“We want to create clearly identifiable ward boundaries using geographical features such as roads, rivers, mountains, and valleys, while avoiding the splitting of voting districts and maintaining existing ward numbers,” said Manzini.