Students plan to vote against corruption in local elections

Many North-West University (NWU) students said they will make sure to cast their votes in the upcoming local government elections, especially after the alleged corruption scandals that have plagued the JB Marks Local Municipality in Potchefstroom, but some students appear to have lost faith in politicians.

In April this year president Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the municipal elections will take place on 27 October 2021. 

The students’ commitment to vote comes in the wake of theft and fraud charges instigated in October last year against the former executive mayor of the JB Marks Local Municipality, Kgotso Khumalo, by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). 

Khumalo, Cyril Henry, a former director in the municipality and Mohau Shuping, are facing eight charges of theft and fraud of the municipality’s funds, NPA spokesperson Henry Mamothame told threestreamsmedia in a statement.

Zolani Tyobeka (21), an honours student in BCom financial accounting at the NWU’s Potchefstroom campus, said he will make sure to vote in the upcoming elections. 

“Yes, I will be voting. South Africa is a democratic country and all of us have a say on how it should be run. Beyond social media, beyond commissions, we as the public have a right to vote. Power is the ability to direct relevant activities and we as the public can direct the direction the country is heading. I want to make use of the power I have because if I do not vote, it would mean that I am giving that power to someone else,” Tyobeka said. 

Tshidiso Taeli (21), NWU honours student in political studies, echoed this sentiments and said he will also vote. He feels the appointment of the new mayor of the municipality, Mapule Mataboge, will not bring any solution to the lack of service delivery in Potchefstroom. 

“Service delivery is very poor in Potchefstroom and it will not be resolved. We have poor infrastructure and water services. The former mayor, Mr Khumalo, needs to be held accountable along with his co-accused. Schedule 3 of the Municipal Structures Act was deliberately abandoned. There is no accountability and a culture of good ethics in the ruling party. So the incoming mayor is just a facade that is not going to radically change the municipality around. People are given tenders and positions on the ticket of deployment or affiliation and not merit,” he said. 

Youth leaders encourage students to vote during the upcoming municipal elections in October. (Video: Winnie Chirwa)

Meanwhile, Tshepo Kgopane (21), a public governance with public administration student at the NWU, said he will not be casting a vote and he has lost hope in political parties.

“I will not be exercising my legal right to vote for I believe it is useless. Citizens have been voting ever since the democratic government took charge but the only things that we keep on receiving are the same old deceiving, empty promises than service. I have lost hope and trust in all the political parties because they all hold hidden agendas which are for their benefits and not for the country’s interests,” said Kgopane. 

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has encouraged students to vote. 

North-West provincial head of IEC, Dr Tumelontle Thiba said: “There is a need for students to have a say in the affairs of their communities by participating in the election of public representatives. The young generation of the 1970’s lost life and limb in the struggle for emancipation, including the right to vote.”