South Africa Parliament Passes Bill to Establish Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority

South Africa Parliament Passes Bill to Establish Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority

August 13, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

South Africa’s National Assembly has approved legislation to replace the country’s Municipal Demarcation Board with an independent authority responsible for determining municipal boundaries and ward divisions.

The Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill will establish a new legislative framework governing the determination and redetermination of municipal boundaries, as well as the delimitation of municipalities into wards.

The legislation is intended to ensure that municipal boundaries support effective local governance, equitable and sustainable service delivery, integrated development and economic development.

It also introduces public participation in boundary determinations and ward delimitation, allowing communities to comment on or object to proposed decisions. A Demarcation Appeals Authority will provide a mechanism for challenging certain demarcation decisions.

The Bill provides for information technology expertise to be considered when appointing members of the authority’s board. Its selection panel will also include representatives from the National Assembly committee responsible for local government oversight and the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders, alongside other representatives specified in the legislation.

The legislation has taken several years to complete. The National Assembly initially passed the Bill on November 30, 2023, before sending it to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence. It lapsed when the Sixth Parliament ended in May 2024 and was subsequently revived by the Council on July 29, 2024.

The National Council of Provinces passed the Bill with amendments on November 27, 2025. After reviewing the changes, the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs recommended that the National Assembly accept them.

The National Assembly adopted the committee’s report and concurred with the amendments before passing the Bill. The legislation will now be submitted to the President for assent.

Source: FSX Business News