WARD DEMARCATION
24 September 2025: MDB publishes Draft Set 2 (Notice No. 31/330).
CCF REQUESTS:
Fix split voting districts hurting Ward 61:
* Bring Rosina’s 655 home.
* Move the Mooiplaas 1 000 out.
We are once again burdened with the MDB drawing the boundary lines ……. Ward 61 is living it!!!
After seeking clarity from the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) regarding the inclusion of 1000 registered voters from Mooiplaas in Ward 61, the Concerned Community Forum (CCF) was told to refer to the maps, look at where the voters are geographically based. Which we understand, that from a service delivery perspective, it possibly makes sense, BUT “Maps don’t vote—people do.”
That’s the Concerned Community Forum’s(CCF) rallying cry as Ward 61 residents confront two split voting districts that dilute accountability and confuse voters: Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School (split between Ward 61 / Region 4 and Ward 51 / Region 3) and Springs of Living Waters, Mooiplaas (VD 32980338) (split between Ward 70 and Ward 61).
“One community. One councillor. One clear ballot,” the CCF said.
“We’re asking the MDB to bring Rosina’s 655 voters back to Ward 61 and to move Mooiplaas 1 000 voters out of Ward 61—800 to Ward 70 and 200 to Ward 48—so ballots match real communities and station catchments.”
Background
30 June 2025, the CCF (on behalf of the Residents of Ward 61) submitted a petition to the Municipal Demarcation Board objecting to the proposed Ward Boundaries.
Our objection was based on:
- MDB proposed Mooiplaats (Springs of Living Water Voting District) to be split with 1150 voters registered to vote in Ward 61. We objected and proposed that all the voters from Mooiplaats (Springs of Living Waters Church) should be registered to vote in Ward 48.
- MDB proposed that Rosina Sedibane voting district be split between Ward 61 (900 voters registered) and Ward 51(655 voters registered)
We objected and proposed that all the voters are registered to vote in Ward 61
- Reallocation of Monastery of the Descent (Gerhardsville), VD 32980327 from Ward 48 to Ward 61
We objected and proposed that Gerhardsville registered voters are retained in Ward 61
- We objected to the proposal of the Ward 61 Councillor, sent on 29 June 2025 to the community via a WhatsApp message:
Dear Residents,
After carefully considering various factors, including the number of registered voters, population, technical aspects of demarcation, infrastructure, potential new voters, ward size in square kilometers, and number of households, I’ve explored different scenarios to meet the Demarcation Board’s criteria for forming a ward. Based on my analysis, the only feasible proposal I, as the ward councillor, after receiving feedback from the community on WhatsApp and email, put forward to the Demarcation Board is to maintain the current ward boundaries with a minor adjustment. I suggest adding ONLY the farming area from the bridge outside Erasmia (before Jalapors farm) up to the Cheese Shop to our ward. This addition would balance the numbers as required. It’s worth noting that in 2021, although the area between the Bridge (Jalalpor Farm) in Erasmia and the Cheese Shop voted in Erasmia (Ward 61), they fell under ward 70 (Councillor Marika Kruger Muller) for service delivery purposes. Further, I suggest that the split VD of Mooiplaats remains in WARD 70 of Cllr Marika Kruger. I’m still open to suggestions from residents before submitting my final proposal to the Board on Monday morning.
Cllr Naeem Patel
Our objection was based on:
- The lack of transparency with an open ended proposal that was not publicly circulated.
- The lack of clarity of the “potential new voters” – given that we are facing challenges with the land invasion.
- If they are registered to vote in Ward 61 – what was the need to ADD the area again?
THE CCF CURRENT PROPOSAL TO THE MDB DRAFT SET 2:
- Reunite Rosina Sedibane inside Ward 61 Return the 655 voters currently counted in Ward 51 (Region 3) to Ward 61 (Region 4). Rosina’s school and catchment sit squarely in the Ward 61 community; one VD should mean one ward and one councillor, not a cross-region split.
- Keep Mooiplaas out of Ward 61 — share voters between Ward 70 and Ward 48 Remove 1 000 Mooiplaas voters currently counted in Ward 61 and reassign 800 to Ward 70 and 200 to Ward 48.
Mooiplaas registered voters are better suited between these two wards:
Adjacency & contiguity: Both Ward 70 and Ward 48 directly border Mooiplaas; Ward 61 does not provide a coherent catchment for this station.
Community-of-interest: Daily work, transport and services for Mooiplaas flow toward Mnandi/Heuweloord (W70) and Sunderland Ridge/Laezonia (W48).
NORM COMPLIANCE AND BALANCE MDB thresholds (metro): Minimum 12 864 ·
Norm 15 134 · Maximum 17 404
Current roll
- Ward 61: 17 268 (includes Mooiplaas 1 000; excludes Rosina 655)
- Ward 70: 16 537
- Ward 48: 17 021
After the CCF proposal
- Ward 61: 17 268 – 1 000 + 655 = 16 923
- Ward 70: 16 537 + 800 = 17 337
- Ward 48: 17 021 + 200 = 17 221
All three wards sit tightly clustered around ~17 000 and under the 17 404 maximum, satisfying the ±15% variance expectation while producing cleaner, more legible ward lines.
THE FIX IS SIMPLE: KEEP COMMUNITIES WHOLE, KEEP BALLOTS CLEAR.
The Concerned Community Forum (CCF) will submit an official petition-style objection to the Municipal Demarcation Board by Wednesday, 08 October 2025. The petition will be released online from Saturday, 04 October 2025 across CCF channels and the Laudium Sun’s social media platforms. Make your voice heard—sign it, share it and make your voice heard.
Remember: the only way to save Ward 61 is to come out and vote — in our numbers. If you would like to join the Concerned Community Forum, please send a WhatsApp message to 066 390 0404 or email: concernedcommunityforum4@gmail.com