It was a day of mixed emotions during election day on Monday as residents of the dysfunctional Ditsobotla local municipality in North West said they believed their votewould change their lives whereas others said they had not voted.
As people stood in long queues at voting stations in Boikhutso, Lichtenburg, to cast their votes while other stations had few people trickling in, dozens of people were seen on some streets not far away from the polling stations fetching water from a communal tap with all sorts of containers.
While others arrived at voting stations in high spirits others were seemingly not interested in voting as they were hanging about at local liquor stores and pubs, talking at the top of their voices as the loud music banged in the background as they drank.
Teacher Maluleke, 43, who stays in the Lichtenburg CBD, said he did not vote because he was sick and tired of empty promises from political parties.
“I have been staying here for five years and I have not seen any changes. When you go to town you cannot drive your car there because there are potholes everywhere,” said Maluleke.
“All these [political] parties are the same. We have voted for a long time and the people in power are not listening to us. We don’t have a voice. They are not giving us anything.”
When the Sowetan team drove through the streets of Boikhutso on Monday the streets were marked by potholes and heaps of uncollected refuse.
In one of the houses in Boikhutso Ext 2 a group of five unemployed men were sitting on creates under a tree, drinking beer.
All of the men said they were fed up with the lack of service delivery in the area, which includes living without water and experiencing constant power cuts.
“I am not going to vote. Our water issue has not been resolved. We experience water cuts in the morning about 10am and have to wait until 5pm when the water is back. We don’t have water as we speak. This is frustrating,” said Mogapi Nong, 33.
Joseph Kubelo, 32, said: “We fetch water withy 20-litre containers, which is not enough. We only use it to bathe.”
Meanwhile, Gosiame Mojaki, 69, said he had voted so that his grandchildren could have a brighter future.
“I am at peace after voting. I want my children to get jobs and us the elderly to get proper houses,” said Mojaki.
Khowa Mazwembe, 26, said he voted so that jobs could be created for young people like himself.
“We are really struggling, my brother. We hustle every day. We need jobs to earn a living,” said Mazwembe.
First-time voter Lebogang Dielele, 19, who voted at Ditsobotla Primary School, said she was overcome with joy that she was voting for the first time.
“When I woke up today (on Monday) my heart told me to go and vote. I am tired of seeing garbage all over the streets,” said Dielele.
The Ditsobotla municipality has been rocked by ANC factional battles, which led to the collapse of service delivery and saw the appointment of 12 municipal managers, two administrators and two mayors in just five years.
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