Deputy Speaker, when the legislation was passed to have Matatiele incorporated into the Eastern Cape, it went against the wishes of residents of the area. The residents challenged the constitutionality of the legislation and the Constitutional Court ruled in favour of the community on a technicality. Parliament was given 18 months to correct the constitutional defect. This Bill aims to correct the omission to legally transfer Matatiele from KwaZulu-Natal to the Eastern Cape.
The question remains whether the problem surrounding the incorporation of Matatiele into the Eastern Cape will be resolved, despite the new law. The initial process was flawed, yet 18 months down the line, while the residents have managed to restore constitutionality to the legislative process, their circumstances remain the same.
The protests against the demarcation were not only socioeconomic in nature. The residents did not want to be incorporated into an area they felt would leave them worse off than they already were. Government has transferred staff and assets to the Eastern Cape, but the struggle remains an uphill battle for the people of Matatiele.
Whether improvements in municipal delivery will change the perception of the affected residents to their new boundary locations remains to be seen. For now, the situation remains volatile, and this Bill does not help in any way to further a process in ongoing consultation.
This Bill is a response to a flawed process of the past, which, in order to be constitutionally valid, required a technical change. The constitutional ruling could not, however, cause Parliament to rescind its decision on the original demarcation process and return Matatiele to KwaZulu-Natal. The FD therefore cannot support this Bill in light of the earlier processes. I thank you.