Voter drive collides with angry villagers

A project led by provincial legislature speaker Noxolo Kiviet to encourage citizens to vote was met with a heated reaction at a rural village.

The project, organised in partnership with the provincial electoral commission (IEC), involves MPLs and officials touring the province to raise voter awareness.

During officials’ visit to Ntlambashe village in Ntabankulu, residents expressed anger at changes in municipal boundaries.

The village is one of many affected by the Demarcation Board’s decision to alter boundaries.

When the group led by MPL Fezeka Baleni arrived at the village they were told to pack up and leave.

Ward committee leader Siphiwo Ngudle said the Ntlambashe community had demanded that the delegation first sort out the demarcation changes before they would be allowed to start the voter education programme.

Ngudle said the heart of the problem was that no one in the village had been consulted over the demarcation changes.

“The municipal officials came to us telling us the report was final.

“The village will be part of Ward6. This angered most villagers, and that is why most did not vote in 2011, and more first-time voters refused to register for the August election,” said Ngudle.

Legislature spokeswoman Bulelwa Ganyaza said according to IEC records, the area was one of the few in the province which had a poor voter turnout in the previous municipal elections.

She said after a lengthy discussion, MPL Mninawa Nyusile tried to persuade community members not to waste the opportunity to vote this year.

Ngudle said the community had now agreed to allow eligible voters to do so on August 3.

“The voter programme was a huge success, and has been able to change the perception of the people and show them the importance of voting,” said Ganyaza.

“But the government has to come back and explain these things because people still need answers about how the decision to make these changes was reached.”