Mashatile tells new councillors: fix the water, the roads and the jobs

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has told councillors elected in Wednesday’s local government elections to put communities’ needs ahead of their own interests, naming water shortages, poor roads and jobs for young people as the challenges they must answer.

“It is important that the incoming councillors address the challenges facing our people. We have heard the concerns they have raised, including water shortages, poor roads, and the need for job opportunities for young people. They must focus on job creation and improving service delivery for everyone,” Mashatile said.

He was speaking to members of the media after casting his vote at the St. Johannes Lutheran Church in Sandton, Johannesburg.

South Africans are at the polls to elect representatives to municipal councils, the bodies that will carry responsibility for delivering essential services. Once in office, councillors are responsible for improving communities, delivering services, passing bylaws and overseeing their implementation.

Mashatile urged voters who feel despondent to cast their ballots rather than stay home.

“Voting is a right that we fought for, and it is their democratic right. When you sit at home and don’t vote, other people make decisions on your behalf. It is important to vote, and the good thing is that people have a wide range of candidates to choose from. There is no reason to stay at home,” he said.

“I call for people to come out and vote. This is what we fought for. It’s good to see many people going out to vote in many parts of the country. In areas where not many have come out to vote, we are urging them to come out and vote for a candidate of their choice.”

The Electoral Commission of South Africa recorded 29.2 million registered voters, a figure the agency describes as unprecedented. There are 23 696 voting stations nationwide, which opened at 7am and are due to close at 9pm. Voters still within the boundaries of a voting station at closing time will still be assisted.

President Cyril Ramaphosa declared Election Day a public holiday so that voters could exercise their civic duty.

The account above is drawn from SAnews (South African Government News Agency), the government’s own news service, which reported the Deputy President’s remarks and the election logistics. The original report can be read at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/deputy-president-mashatile-calls-incoming-councillors-serve-citizens.