Cape Town – Eastern Cape Co-operative
Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Fukile Xasa has decried the actions by Ntlangano residents in Ward 1, Ntabankulu, which led to no votes being cast in the area.
This, he said, denied 591 people who were eligible to vote.
Subsequent to IEC staff being denied access to conduct the special votes, Xasa decided to engage the
community with the purpose of resolving the impasse.
He said the community was demanding the removal of a ward councillor, the completion of an incomplete road, provision of electricity and the construction of a bridge.
“We have engaged the Ntlangano community and responded to all their concerns with realistic time frames, but they decided against allowing the IEC to do its constitutional mandate.
“It is clear that they do not want to vote, regardless of the commitments we made as government.
“It is once again an unfortunate situation for those people of
the area who are eager to vote,”
added Xasa.