Morné Mostert: ANC’s “fantasy megatropolis” faces full-scale fight from AfriForum

According to Nomvula Mokonyane, First Deputy Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC), the party is considering a fundamental review of the country’s municipal structures, including the possible amalgamation of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni into a single “megatropolis”. In his reaction, Morné Mostert, Local Government Affairs Manager for AfriForum, tells Chris Steyn that his civil rights organisation would “tackle it legally - full scale” as “this won't benefit any citizens on ground level”. He also points out that municipal councillors remuneration is based upon how big the municipality is. “So it's very obvious for political structures to say, yes, let's create a larger municipality as it will benefit them personally.” Mostert further details the large-scale municipal litigation AfriForum is currently involved in. “Our latest primary focus with regards to litigation are shadow fees and taxes that our municipalities put into the tariff bylaws and put into the budgets… most of these municipalities are just running to get funds together and they're not doing that in a legal or lawful manner.” Describing the mood on the ground, he says: “...most people are frustrated. No economy can function properly if there aren't regular, efficient and readily available services… people are in dire straits.”