BY Mzi Velapi and Vincent Lali, first published here on Elitsha / photographs by Mzi Velapi and Vincent Lali
Elitsha reports that Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain residents in the Western Cape hope the elections will bring solutions to pressing issues like crime, youth unemployment, and inadequate social services. The Independent Electoral Commission reports over 3.7 million registered voters in the province, mostly women aged 40-49, concentrated in Cape Town.
Anastacia Daniels, voting at Tafelsig Community Hall, emphasised the urgElithse and drugs. He criticised the lack of police action against drug dealers in the community. He pointed out the heavy police presence protecting officials, as during the visit of provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Phatekile, while citizens struggle to get police assistance.
Pamela Ngxanga from Nkanini informal settlement stressed the need for safety during commutes, as many residents are frequently mugged at bus stops on their way to work due to insufficient police visibility.
Nosisi Mgijima, voting at Khulangolwazi Educare in Enkanini, called for her political party to provide essential services like water, toilets, and electricity. She also urged the better road construction to facilitate emergency services access so that transport doesn’t drop residents far from their homes.
Lulamile Msuthwana, an old-age pensioner from Enkanini, expressed the need for an increased pension grant, saying that the current grant is less than the minimum wage, making it difficult to buy food and support his grandchildren.
These residents’ voices underscore the critical need for government action to address crime, unemployment, and the provision of essential services. Their concerns reflect a demand for tangible improvements in their communities, advocating for a government that prioritises the needs of the working class.
Long snaking voting queues were common in most informal settlements in Cape Town. Photo by Vincent Lali
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