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Boundary Delimitation

South Africa South Africa

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies
Question:Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer: b. No, existing regional/provincial/other boundaries are used
Comments:  MDB follows 2 Broad cycles between local elections -Immediate after an elections municipal boundaries are reviewed. This first cycle takes around 2 years. -After the review of municipal boundaries wards are delimited for the next local elections. This second cycle takes around 18 months. -Elections were held on 18 May 2011, and the revie of municipal boundaries commenced in June 2011. Next local elections are approximately May 2016 (can deviate with 90 days)
Source: Municipal Demarcation Board FAQs: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZA/south-africa-municipal-demarcation-board-faqs/view
Verified: 2014/05/01
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries
Question:On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s): a. "Equality" of population
b. Respecting natural barriers
c. Compactness of constituencies
f. Communities of interest/cultural concerns
g. Other
Comments: -Provincial boundaries needs to be determined constitutionally -Representations regarding changes to municipal boundaries affecting provincial boundaries need to be submitted to nation Minister responsible for local government -The Constitution provides that a Bill providing for an amendment to alter provincial boundaries must be passed by the National Assembly with a supporting vote of at least two-thirds of its members, and also by the National Council of Provinces, with a supporting vote of at least six provinces. This parliamentary process is a part of a lengthy process to amend the Constitution (Section 74(3))
Source: Municipal Demarcation Board FAQs: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZA/south-africa-municipal-demarcation-board-faqs/view Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (as amended to 2009), Article 74(3): http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZA/south-africa-electoral-act-2010/view
Verified: 2014/05/01
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries
Question:The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s): d. Boundary Commission
f. A government department or agency
Comments: The Demarcation Board, after consultation with the Independent Electoral Commission, delimits municipalities that must have wards, into wards.
Source: Electoral Law: Local Government Municipal Structures Act, Chapter 1: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZA/Local%20Government%20Municipal%20Structures%20Act%201998.pdf/view.
Verified: 2014/05/01
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
The data on this page is continuously updated. Additional, but potentially outdated material is available here.