It’s all systems go in local government elections

POLOKWANE – DA Limpopo leader, Jacques Smalle, says the party is currently working to take its vision for local government and its strategy of improving service delivery to people across the country ahead of the elections.

“Our campaign kicked off last year with registration posters all over the streets,” Smalle says.

“We are excited about the possibilities this year holds for us and we are looking forward to improve our support in every municipality.”

Jossey Buthane, EFF provincial secretary, says they fear no opposition party in the upcoming elections, and they are ready to give their people proper service.

“Our branches are doing well in all the municipalities and with that we have no fear. Our people are hungry for proper service delivery. The EFF is looking forward to bringing a better life to the poor people of Limpopo and the country at large,” says Buthane.

IEC prevented from registering voters

Although preparations are underway for the voter registration this weekend, some Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officials have been denied access to register voters in the Vuwani area.

This is due to a pending decision in the Polokwane High Court on whether voters still fall under the Makhado Municipality or will be reassigned to the newly-proposed municipality that is in the pipeline.

The case between the Pro-Makhado Group and the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) is set to be heard from 25 to 27 April.

Limpopo Provincial Electoral Officer, Nkaro Mateta, said they were still in negotiation with the Pro-Makhado Group task team and their traditional leader.

According to law, the IEC has to open voting stations everywhere in South Africa. Those who want to register must be allowed to do that, or if they don’t want to, that is their democratic right.

“We are expecting approximately 60 000 people to vote in that area. We are worried that innocent people will miss the opportunity to register, especially those who are not on the electoral roll,” said Mateta.

Leader of the Pro-Makhado group, Arnold Mulaudzi disputed Mateta’s statement that they were refusing to allow the IEC to register voters in the area.

He said they were refusing to allow the IEC to implement the MDB’s decision to register people under the new municipality.

“If the IEC is coming, the registration process should be done under the name ‘Makhado Municipality’, not the new municipality. What is going to happen if we win the court case?” asjed Mulaudzi.

Spokesperson for the department of cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs, Callies Matlala, said the matter was still sub- judice and as such could not comment.