The future of KwaDukuza is in voters’ hands today (November 4) as thousands head to the polls to choose who will govern their municipality for five years.

The nation-wide local government elections follow two days of special voting on Monday and Tuesday.

Among those voting from home was 89-year-old Tholakele Dziba of Shayamoya, Ward 28, who expressed frustration over broken political promises.

“What takes away the excitement of voting is the false promises from political parties. I am bedridden. I don’t know how many politicians have walked in here, seen my situation and promised me heaven and earth. Do they come back? No. So now I vote because it is the right thing to do,” she said.

iLembe has 390 628 registered voters across 378 voting districts, with KwaDukuza accounting for the largest share (167 860), followed by Mandeni (84 871), Ndwedwe (81 910) and Maphumulo (55 987).
Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association (Docrra) chief operating officer Mary Kassam urged residents to make their voices heard.

“We cannot continue doing the same thing and expecting different results. Showing up at the ballot box is how we help change who makes those decisions,” she said.

KwaZulu-Natal acting provincial police commissioner Major General Phumelele Makoba said police had been deployed across the province to ensure peaceful elections.

“The residents of KwaZulu-Natal are counting on you,” she told officers at a Durban parade on Tuesday.