The Electoral Commission in the Eastern Cape has urged communities to register to vote, saying this will give them power.
The provincial Electoral Officer, Khayakazi Magudumala says, “We even had a challenge of recruiting people until the very last minute around Umzimvubu local municipality, where people are having a problem with the recent demarcation borders in their areas because they feel they’ve been divided as a community. There’s nothing at this stage we can do as the IEC. Staying away from voting or from registration will not assist. Let’s rather have communities that are registered”.
This weekend’s voter registration drive will be an important milestone. The IEC says this is because it will give every South African the opportunity to confirm their details and to register to vote.
Meanwhile, the community of Gxwaleni, outside EmaXesibeni in the Eastern Cape is threatening to boycott voter registration this weekend. Residents are demanding the incorporation into the uMzimvubu Municipality, saying they lack basic services.
The community currently falls under the Ntabankulu Municipality. The residents say there will be no voter registration at four voting stations in Gxwaleni, Malinga, Ntshentshe and Zanokhanyo.
Xoliswa Simarha, one of the people who fell under the uMzimbuvu Municipality in the 90s before they were moved to Ntabankulu, says the situation has worsened.
“The reason we want to return back to Mzimvubu is that Ntabankulu is not doing anything for us. Our roads are in a bad state, we have no jobs, no houses and no water. There’s no development here for us. The closest municipality to us in Mzimvubu and they sometimes bring us services. We don’t even know how we came under Ntabankulu. Our former councillor brought us here without our knowledge. I think if we were to go back there our cry will be heard. We want to go back home,” says Simarha.
