Angry Phumlani residents who had approached lawyers following their exclusion from the Ward 1 by-elections that were held last week actually belong to Ward 2 – that's according to council documents.
Angry Phumlani residents who had approached lawyers following their exclusion from the Ward 1 by-elections that were held last week actually belong to Ward 2 – that's according to council documents.
Phumlani residents were never meant to vote in Ward 1 in the 2011 local government elections.
These documents indicate that the confusion was caused by an administrative blunder on the part of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The residents of Phumlani are actually part of Ward 2 and the IEC could not in good faith allow them to vote in the by-election.
The demarcation of ward boundaries is not the responsibility of the IEC, but of the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB), according to a report tabled in a special council meeting yesterday.
Earlier this month Grocott's Mail reported that a complicated process regarding Phumlani's participation in the by-elections planned for 22 July had at last come to finalisation.
However, it seemed at the time that the process had further confused residents of the area.
Phumlani resident, Andile Hoyi, was elected to lead a task team formed to find out why residents from the area were excluded from the by-elections.
Hoyi believes the IEC and the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) have failed the residents of Phumlani.
He has been vocal about the fact that both bodies should have sent representatives to address the residents in person to eliminate any confusion.
Yesterday, in the council meeting, councillor Nomhle Gaga suggested that a recommendation stating that residents of Phumlani be formally incorporated into Ward 2 be added to the list of recommendations.
Meanwhile newly appointed Makana Municipality councillor, Melikhaya Phongolo, was officially sworn in a ceremony conducted by Reverend Mvuleni Mvula in the same meeting.
The ANC retained Ward 1 during the hotly-contested by-election on 22 July.
The by-election followed the death of ANC councillor Nomhle Ngoqo. Acting municipal manager Riana Meiring asked Mvuleni to swear in Phongolo yesterday.
anele@grocotts.co.za
