Cathy Dlodlo

In a move set to end months of uncertainty, the Mangaung municipality will become a metro after the local government elections.

This is according to the spokesperson for the municipality, Qondile Khedama. He said the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) had indicated that the matter had been concluded.

The municipality covers Bloemfontein and Thaba Nchu.

The gazetting of Mangaung’s added status followed years of lobbying by the ANC.

The municipality voted in favour of such a move in 2006, with gazetting coming about three years later.

But last year the MEC for cooperative government and traditional affairs, Mosebenzi Zwane, asked the MDB to review the metro status.

At the time the MDB said this was a lengthy legal process requiring the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to be consulted.

Residents of Naledi and Mantsopa municipalities indicated they would go to court to force the MDB to reverse Mangaung’s status.

The two were unhappy with being integrated into two different district municipalities. They presently fall under the Motheo district municipality, which will be dissolved after the local elections should Mangaung become a metro council.

Naledi would be incorporated into Xhariep district municipality, while Mantsopa was due to become part of the Thabo Mofutsanyane district municipality.