MDB splits Free State Municipality to improve service delivery

The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) has created a new municipality in the Free State by splitting Kopanong Local Municipality into two. This change will take effect after the next local government elections.

On Wednesday, the Board handed over its final report to the Electoral Commission (IEC), which outlines the country's new ward and municipal boundary lines.

The existing Kopanong Local Municipality is divided into nine towns with vast agricultural land between them. The sheer size of the area made it difficult for the municipality to deliver services to all residents and, conversely, for residents to access municipal buildings.

As a result, the Chairperson of the Municipal Demarcation Board, Thabo Manyoni, stated that they had to split Kopanong into two municipalities.

"Our decision will be implemented post the local government elections. In that time you will be having a municipality with five towns and another municipality with four towns. The issue there was the distance to be covered was too long and vast for officials to be able to provide services within one municipality, within a specified time and improve on rapid response."

Manyoni confirmed that the report has been shared with the relevant government departments to consider the financial and electoral implications of the decision.