VOTER registration weekend started on a sour note in Dikgopaneng Village near Makapanstad, North West and cops had to be called to calm down the situation.
This follows a war that erupted between Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) representatives and residents.
On Saturday, 3 February, gatvol villagers denied IEC representatives entry at Dikgopaneng Primary School, which was identified as a registration station.
They said they were sick and tired of politicians, particularly Moretele Municipality for failing to deliver basic needs such as water to the community since 2018.
Holding placards written: "Too thirsty", villagers said they had to use the voter registration weekend as a vehicle to make their voices heard and not allow anyone to enter the premises.
Speaking to the People's Paper, Solly Mothiba, who is a community leader, said they had to resort to this ugly way of attracting attention to send a strong message to Moretele Municipality.
“We just want those who are authorised to handle this matter to come here and give us a solution. From 2018, we have been told lies after lies and now we are tired,” he said.
Oupa Masenya, also a community leader, said: “We have reached a boiling point and we can’t wait any longer. We have a borehole that has to supply us with water but no one is willing to complete the project. We are just tired of living like animals while putting our lives at risk. We are really thirsty and the water tanks only come once in a while and the water is not even enough for all of us.”
Another resident, Welheminah Theledi said they are forced to bath with the same water in her household just to save the little drops that they have.
“We are crying for water and we have been told empty promises and now we can’t take it anymore. Maybe the municipality will see how serious we are. We just want to shake our leaders by blocking the gates. I don’t remember when was the last time we saw water tanks in this area. We are tired and we are thirsty,” said another resident, Grace Motsoaledi.
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One of the IEC representatives explained to residents that the commission’s work is to facilitate the election process.
“If you have service delivery grievances, you should raise them with your leaders and not the commission. Closing a voting station is a criminal offence because the commission has an agreement with this community to use this as a voting station,” said the representative.
Ward 5 Councillor, John Molefe acknowledged the challenges faced by the community of not having access to water and that this problem has been there for too long.
“I have notified the mayor about what is happening right now and the response given to me was that he will meet with the community,” he said.
Spokesman for Moretele Municipality, Mothupi Malebye said the mayor plans to address the community.
