Voters must keep momentum going

The Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs in the province has called on registered voters to keep momentum going into the local government elections on 18 May. 

Speaking against the backdrop of increasing perceptions of voter apathy, especially among the youth, MEC Paul Sebegoe said government has prioritised local government as the people's business and has developed and implemented a holistic local government turnaround strategy, a move he said will have an impact on the lives of communities.

He said his department will also be at the coalface of the impending roll out of the New Growth Path Strategy and the provincial growth and development strategy for economic growth and job creation.

"We want to see a system of local government that works, delivers and responds directly to the needs of our people in providing basic essential services and creating job opportunities. 

"It is in this light that we will be monitoring the performance of municipalities very closely and paying meticulous attention to the workings of municipal systems and processes," Sebegoe explained

Sebegoe said 30 483 new voters in the province had registered to vote in the elections. According to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), 53% of the total figure of registered voters in the province were women.

Source: North West Local Government and Traditional Affairs