Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu votes in Thulamahashe as 29.2 million register for local elections

Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu cast his vote at the Thulamahashe Civic Centre on Wednesday, as South Africans went to the polls to elect municipal councils.

Speaking to the media after voting, Ndlovu urged eligible voters to turn out. “I would like to encourage voters to come out in numbers and participate in electing the new council, as the term of office of the previous council has come to an end,” he said. “The power is in our hands to constitute a new council.”

He put capable local government at the centre of his message, and singled out water. “As government, our priority is to build capable municipalities that are equal to the task of delivering services. Water is life, and we are going to pay special attention to this issue in Mbombela,” Ndlovu said.

According to the Premier, the provincial government is working on two water schemes. One is a planned new dam in the City of Mbombela. The other is the Loskop Bulk Water Supply Project in the Nkangala District, which the Premier said is expected to improve water provision for communities in Thembisile Hani and Dr JS Moroka Local Municipalities.

“We have analysed feasibility studies for the construction of a dam in the City of Mbombela to improve water supply, as well as the implementation of the Loskop Bulk Water Supply Project in the Nkangala District,” he said.

Ndlovu gave the province’s service figures as he made the case. “Currently, 12% of households do not have access to piped water, 5% of people do not have access to electricity, while access to sanitation stands at 80%,” he said.

He asked voters to hold their new councillors to account once the council is in place. “When they vote, they must also understand that they have a responsibility to engage with their councillors on a range of issues,” Ndlovu said.

The Electoral Commission recorded 29.2 million registered voters, which SAnews described as unprecedented, and 23 696 voting stations nationwide. Voting stations opened at 7am and close at 9pm, and voters inside the boundaries of a station at closing time will still be assisted. President Cyril Ramaphosa declared election day a public holiday.

The councillors elected on Wednesday will be responsible for improving communities, delivering services and promulgating and overseeing the implementation of bylaws.

This report is drawn from SAnews (South African Government News Agency), which is a summary account of the Premier’s remarks rather than a full record of the proceedings. The original report is at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/mpumalanga-premier-casts-his-vote.