No agreemant between parties on Johannesburg demarcation

JOHANNESBURG Aug 3 Sapa

By Janine Eilers

Legal representatives for the main parties involved in the
Greater Johannesburg ward demarcation dispute have failed to reach
agreement, thereby obliging the special Electoral Court to rule on
the matter.

Appeal Court Judge John Smallberger early on Thursday urged the
parties to try to reach agreement because the matter was complex
and threatened to derail local government election plans for
November 1.

However, Gauteng premier Tokyo Sexwale's legal representative
Robert Wise said the case would have to continue.

Arguing for a four sub-structure model, Wise said it was the
preferable option in bridging the gap between apartheid-based
demarcation and the new goverment's racially integrated structure.

It would allow all Johannesburg residents to share equally in
resources, make service delivery more efficient and bring about a
balanced voter distribution.

The model would preserve existing services like that of
Randburg and Sandton by keeping those administrations intact.

Wise urged the judges to give preference to the premier's
proposed model should they find two models to be equally
appropriate.

His request was based on the fact that the premier was a
democratically elected official.

The four sub-structure model includes parts of Soweto in the
northern sub-structure, and Johannesburg's central business
district in the southern sub-structure.

Sias Reyneke, for the Democratic Party and businesses, argued
for the seven sub-structure model which was already in place to be
retained.

He said the joint negotiating committee representing 
had already decided on issues such as resource
allocation, staff requirements and service provision.

These decisions would have been a waste of time if another
model was chosen.

Reyneke agreed that overcoming racial discrimination enshrined
in the former Group Areas Act was important.

However, economic factors such as the future of the CBD, which
was a separate sub-structure in terms of the seven sub-structure
model, had to be taken into account.

@ ng sector has been a star performer, and extensive prospecting
and exploration work is being conducted. Major projects included
exploration for platinum, gold and diamonds.

Demand for mining services and equipment is therefore
escalating.

But South African business shouldn't focus their efforts in
Zimbabwe only in the mining sector, there was also a growing need
for consumer goods imports.

He reckons South African businesses can excel in exporting
motor vehicles and consumerables to Zimbabwe. Other areas of
opportunity are in exporting chemicals and textile products.

The timber and tobacco industries held great potential for
investment, while tourism was a major attraction.

"Given the greater understanding between our business community
and your's (South Africa), and the greater co-operation between our
governments, the business opportunities are enormous."

Land and labour in Zimbabwe are relatively cheap, while
electricity - though still cheap - was rising, he says.

Matsaira warns prospective businesses of the vulnerability of
the Zimbabwe dollar, and the high interest and inflation rates.

Inflation dropped last year but it is still high at 22,3 per
cent, while the economy grew at four per cent.