Johannesburg — The African National Congress (ANC) is considering a sweeping review of municipal structures that could see Gauteng’s three metros — Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni — merged into a single political entity, the party’s first deputy secretary‑general, Nomvula Mokonyane, said in an interview with the Sunday Times.
What the ANC is proposing
Mokonyane said some existing municipal boundaries may no longer be viable and must be examined to promote integrated, developmental planning across the province. While the concept of a more integrated city region for Gauteng has been discussed previously, she suggested a far more radical change that could effectively collapse the three metros into one.
“A few years back, not so long ago, you could know you were leaving Johannesburg now and travelling to Tshwane. Nowadays you don’t even know. You just see the sign on the road that says you are in Centurion now, but you thought you were still in Midrand.” — Nomvula Mokonyane
Mokonyane said the review will be a key topic at the ANC’s national policy conference slated to follow this year’s local government elections. She framed the idea as a response to economic and spatial realities: different parts of Gauteng host distinct economic specialisations — manufacturing in the east, finance and commerce in Johannesburg, government and diplomatic functions in Tshwane — and she argued this points to the rationale for an integrated metropolitan arrangement.
Potential impacts and political sensitivities
The deputy secretary‑general acknowledged the political consequences of such a reconfiguration. Merging metros could reduce the number of councillors and mayors, a prospect likely to stir resistance from incumbents and party structures that rely on local representation. Mokonyane said the future approach should be "developmental" and directed at improving service delivery and economic integration.
Any change to municipal boundaries or status would require a formal review process and engagement with the Municipal Demarcation Board, provincial governments and affected municipalities. The ANC’s suggestion does not alter immediate plans for the upcoming elections but signals a policy direction that could reshape local governance in the medium term.
Practical considerations for residents
For ordinary residents, a merged metropolitan arrangement could mean unified planning of transport, housing, economic corridors and municipal services. But the transition would also raise questions about:
- how service delivery responsibilities are reallocated;
- whether rates, tariffs and municipal bylaws would be standardised across the new entity;
- the fate of local ward representation and political accountability structures;
- the administrative cost and timeline of a merger.
These are practical issues that municipal officials, provincial leaders and communities would need to negotiate before any reclassification could proceed.
Precedent and planning argument
The ANC’s argument for a Gauteng “city region” echoes long‑standing debates among urban planners and economists about functional metropolitan regions. Supporters of integration point to cross‑boundary commuting patterns, shared infrastructure demands and economic complementarities as reasons for a single governance model that can plan at scale.
Opponents, however, often warn that larger municipal units can dilute local accountability and that the centralisation of decision‑making risks sidelining neighbourhood priorities. These political and governance trade‑offs are likely to shape the ANC’s internal deliberations.
Where from here
The ANC has indicated the policy conference after the local elections will consider the proposal. If the party adopts boundary reform as policy, it would still face a statutory process: the Municipal Demarcation Board must conduct reviews and the proposals must be debated by provincial and national stakeholders. Any implementation would take months if not years.
| Metro | Primary economic role (as described by Mokonyane) |
|---|---|
| Johannesburg | Financial and economic centre |
| Tshwane | Diplomatic and governance hub |
| Ekurhuleni | Manufacturing and industrial activity |
The discussion will be closely watched in Gauteng, where residents experience daily how municipal borders and service delivery interact — from water and electricity to planning and transport. For now, the proposal is an internal party matter but it raises fundamental questions about how South Africa organises metropolitan governance in one of the country’s most densely populated and economically significant provinces.
Reporter note: The comments by Nomvula Mokonyane were made in an interview published in the Sunday Times and form the basis of the ANC’s stated position.
