Minister of Provincial and Local Government Sicelo Shiceka of South Africa
Pretoria - In a bid to find a lasting solution to demarcation issues facing some municipalities, Provincial and Local Government Minister Sicelo Shiceka says government will revisit them to listen to their concerns.
Speaking in Pretoria on Monday, Minister Shiceka said the process of re-determination of these municipalities has to be preceded by a thorough public participation engagement process.
Johannesburg THE government would initiate legislation to give effect to the will of the majority of the communities affected by boundary disputes, Provincial and Local Government Minister Sicelo Shiceka said yesterday.
In his affidavit filed last month, Shiceka said that when he took office in September he was immediately confronted with long-standing boundary disputes in Merafong, Matatiele and Moutse.
Shiceka said he wanted to deal with these issues as fast as possible as it was unsatisfactory that these communities were dissatisfied.
Shiceka said he began the consultation process in the Merafong/Khutsong, area where it became apparent that the majority of the people in the area wished to be incorporated into Gauteng.
Shiceka said he intended to fast-track a process of consultation in the Moutse and surrounding areas and the work began last month.
After the consultation process, Shiceka said he would appoint a transitional committee to ascertain the views and preferences of communities regarding re-demarcation.
Once the consultative processes have been completed Shiceka said he would initiate the legislative processes that would give effect to the will of the affected communities.
Shiceka was cautioned against making political statements that would encourage "lawlessness" and violent actions aimed at forcing the government to give in to any demand.
But on Saturday Shiceka denied he was promoting "lawlessness", and claimed the clip used on TV was without context.
However, some ministers expressed concern that Shiceka was taking a "pedestrian route" and "populist approach" to a politically sensitive, financially costly and legally difficult issue.
Shiceka said the bills may be published tomorrow for public comment.
According to the Speaker, Shiceka has advised that a referendum on the issue will be called if the task team is unable to come up with any recommendation.
Though government was aware communities were unhappy with the Demarcation Board, Shiceka said it cannot just be reversed.
Bam was happy that Shiceka was willing to listen to the communities.
State to resolve boundary disputes�", "THE government would initiate legislation to give effect to the will of the majority of the communities affected by boundary disputes, Provincial and Local Government Minister Sicelo Shiceka said yesterday.
Shiceka said he would do everything within his power to ensure that the people of Khutsong voted in next years election.
The court heard earlier that Shiceka had said he wanted to talk to the community about the matter with a view to a long-term solution.
Sicelo Shiceka came into being in 1996 after farm workers from the surrounding farms settled in the then informal settlement.
Shiceka is the second respondent in the civil case brought to the Constitutional Court by the Moutse Demarcation Forum.
The postponement was granted, but Shiceka has to submit an affidavit within 20 days outlining what he intends to do to address the applicants grievances.
Sicelo Shiceka is leading the task team, which includes Fikile Mbalula, Makhenkesi Stofile, Phumulo Masualle, Derek Hanekom and Fikile Xasa.
Shiceka was in Alice yesterday following his visit to the OR Tambo region on Monday.
Provincial and local government minister Sicelo Shiceka said a meeting on the water situation would take place by tomorrow or Monday.
NEWLY appointed Provincial and Local Government Minister Sicelo Shiceka has been urged to focus on the financial problems in municipalities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shiceka said municipalities have made a lot of progress in the past year in providing quality services to residents.
Shiceka said the awards ceremony coincided with the launch of Operation Clean Audit, an initiative by provincial and local government ministry to ensure that all municipalities in the country achieve clean audits by the year 2014.
If residents of Khutsong want to be reintegrated into the Gauteng province this will happen, provincial and local government minister Sicelo Shiceka said today.