Polokwane - Malamulele does not qualify for its own municipality in terms of legislation, the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) said on Friday.
“The decision that has been conveyed is that, for the study (on proposed boundaries for a new municipality) ... it's the end of the road,” chairwoman Jane Thupana said.
Residents of the Limpopo town reacted angrily to the news.
“Four of the main roads leading into and out of Malamulele have been blocked and tyres set alight,” police spokeswoman Colonel Ronel Otto said.
Protesters pelted police with stones.
“We did not take any action like firing rubber bullets. We just spoke to them and they dispersed.”
Otto said there was a strong police presence in the area, and this would be maintained throughout the night.
Residents demanding their own municipality have brought Malamulele to a standstill in recent weeks, monitoring roads to ensure no business takes place, and forcing a shutdown of schools as well as shops in the local mall. Last year, protesters set fire to shops and looted, causing millions of rands in damage.
Residents have blamed the MDB for not heeding their call for Malamulele and some surrounding areas, especially the Xitsonga-speaking ones, to have a separate municipality.
They claim they are not receiving services from the Thulamela municipality, which they allege has been channelling services to Tshivenda-speaking areas.
Thupana said new proposals for a Malamulele municipality could still be pursued.
The study looked at proposed boundaries for a municipality in term of Sections 24 and 25 of the Municipal Demarcation Act, dealing with demarcation objectives and factors to be considered.
The MDB must consider, among others, whether the proposed demarcated area would enable the municipality to provide services equitably and sustainably, enable effective local governance, and have a tax base that is as inclusive as possible of those using municipal services.
Another factor to consider is the interdependence of communities and economies and the need for integrated areas.
The demand for another municipality has fuelled tensions between Tshivenda and Xitsonga speakers, and triggered divisions among local traditional leaders, as some regard it as a tribal issue.
Thupana said the cycle for consideration of proposals normally opened after local government elections. The minister of co-operative governance and traditional affairs could however ask the MDB to entertain proposals at other times.
Sapa