Court must free us from worst municipality in SA – NGHA

By Teboho Moloi

HARRISMITH – The New Greater Harrismith Association (NGHA) says it is confident the North Gauteng High Court will rule in its favour and split Harrismith and Kestell from the embattled Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) Municipality.

NGHA chairperson Leona Kleynhans said the review application, set to be heard soon, challenges the Municipal Demarcation Board’s (MDB) decision to reject their bid for de-merger.

For 26 years since MAP was formed in 2000, Kleynhans said residents have been “forced to be governed under an unwieldy and unmanageable municipality.”

“The MDB had two options: de-merge MAP into two separate municipalities, or maintain the status quo in the worst performing municipality in South Africa. In terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, their decision was not rational, not well founded, and not well considered,” Kleynhans said.

She argued that all government and monitoring bodies agree MAP is failing to meet its constitutional obligations and continues to deteriorate.

NGHA believes breaking away is the only way to save the greater Harrismith area.

“In order for Harrismith to unlock its huge potential for economic growth and job creation, and to take its rightful place as one of the best run municipalities in South Africa, it needs to be freed from this forced marriage,” Kleynhans said.

The association previously lobbied the MDB to establish a new, standalone municipality for Harrismith and Kestell. The board ruled against it.

Senior Counsel Adv Jaco Roux, assisted by Attorney Hans Jurie Moolman, will represent NGHA in court.

Kleynhans said the community is watching closely, hoping the judiciary will correct what they call 26 years of administrative injustice.

MAP has been listed as dysfunctional by CoGTA and is currently facing asset seizures over a R31 million debt.