By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) has rejected a proposal to separate Greater Harrismith and Kestell from the embattled Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality – a decision that has angered community leaders and residents.
The Mayibuye Community Based Organisation (MCBO), which led the boundary change campaign with the local Business Forum, churches, educators, and other civic groups, said it was blindsided by the outcome.
MCBO’s Enoch Mlangeni said the community had overwhelmingly supported the split at a public consultative meeting held by the MDB at Intabazwe Multipurpose Hall on 13 September 2023.
“We never received the MDB’s Circular 3 of 2025. We spearheaded this process, yet the Board made a final decision without explaining itself. The 2000 amalgamation of Harrismith and Kestell was imposed by politicians and the MDB, not by the community. If this continues, we will have no choice but to seek legal action,” Mlangeni warned.
Residents like Kestell’s Moses Moloi called the decision a sign of government’s disregard for public opinion.
“I’m very disappointed. This shows our government doesn’t care about people’s feelings. There’s still time before local elections for voters to think carefully about their choices,” Moloi said.
The contested DEM6781 proposal would have carved out Harrismith, Kestell, Tlholong, Intabazwe, Tshiame and surrounding settlements to form a separate municipality, with proponents arguing it would improve governance and service delivery.
But in a circular issued on 7 August 2025, MDB Acting Chairperson Dr. Matheakuena Mohale confirmed DEM6781 – along with 12 other deferred boundary-change proposals nationwide – had been rejected.
The Board said its decision was guided by sections 24 and 25 of the Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act of 1998, and by the need to consider the broader implications for communities, municipalities, provinces, and the country.
“The Board’s decision may not satisfy everyone,” Dr. Mohale wrote. “However, these outcomes reflect a rich democratic process.”
With the boundary change process concluded, the MDB will now begin ward delimitation in affected municipalities, including Maluti-a-Phofung, ahead of the next local government elections.
6 Responses
At first the MDB suggested that part of Harrismith and Kestel should be integrated into Phumelela Municipality. When people of Greater Harrismith and Kestel rejected this for a Stand Alone Municipality they proposed a 6 wards of the Stand Alone which was accepted by people. It’s astonishing that what made MDB change their minds to reject our request all together
As far as this rejection of splitting HARRISMITH and Qwaqwa is concerned I think we playing politics here, ANC leaders have to do with this. According to understand due to the fact that muniipality can’t collect any revenue in Qwaqwa because electricity is breached and no services are paid they realized that separating these two will leave qwaqwa collapsed. Another thing ANC led municipal scared that DA will dominate over and HARRISMITH will be more alive than before. We will never rest until this stupid decision is reversed, we are tired of corruption. They always come here in HARRISMITH to collect revenue every time from residents and realized that they will never get anything from Nestle’ and Nouwens as are the only big companies paying for services with lots of money yet HARRISMITH does not get proper service. WE WANT TO BE SEPARATED FROM QWAQWA, FINISH AND KLAAR!!!
Judging from the comments, it is prevalent that Qwaqwa would be affected negatively by the split. I am not a resident of Qwaqwa, but the honest question is: did the consultative processes and public participation processes involve Qwaqwa residents and what did they say? Was this move not inconsiderate?
My frame of reference is that both Qwaqwa and Harrismith areas need each other to force progress in the Municipality.
first of all we as community of Greater Harrismith we were not consulted when decisions were made to be merged with Qwaqwa, besides Qwaqwa is big enough for it can have its own municipality but because Politicians were so much greedy and hungry for money thats why they merged us so that they get majority votes and to this date Harrismith and Kestel are ghost towns because of this nonfunctional Maluti A Phofung we will fight tooth and nail until the divorce is granted
Aah man it’s really unfair for MDB to reject that. I mean Harrismith specifically services there are non-existent.
I agree with Ouma and Medupi on this one…… ANC politicians played a part in the decision, anyway MDB members are mostly their members
Nna I reside in Qwaqwa.
The decision was irrational from MDB side, or someone influenced it. The interest of the concern communities were ignored. This is a political decision from those who benefit. The decision to incorporate Harrismith, Kestel and the surrounding was not tabled(discussed)with the communities. The concerned communities don’t receive services but Qwaqwa is with the revenue from the very same concern communities. The roads in Harrismith, Kestel and
surrounding areas are very bad whereas in Qwaqwa roads are fixed and even pavements. If the decision is not reversed, 2026 local elections are coming. The next step will be decided and communited to the affected residents.