PIGG’S PEAK RESIDENTS WANT LOCAL GOVT ELECTIONS STOPPED

PIGG’S PEAK – The Pigg’s Peak Ratepayers Association and some residents want the ongoing local government elections stopped.

Their main gripe is that there are some names that do not appear on the voters roll. This is despite that today is the inspection exercise deadline. The exercise, which commenced on April 21, 2023, aims at assisting residents to verify the names of the registered people who appear on the voters roll. The inspection further avails an opportunity for anyone who has an objection to a name that appears on the roll to argue their case. Yesterday, the Pigg’s Peak Ratepayers Association and residents served the town council with a letter, demanding that the elections be immediately stopped.

Objection

The letter, signed by Secretary General Busta Vilakti, was delivered by the Pigg’s Peak Ratepayers Association at the Pigg’s Peak Town Council yesterday and is titled, ‘Objection on the ongoing Local Government Elections in Pigg’s Peak. It reads: “The Pigg’s Peak Ratepayers Association and Residents wishes to object to the ongoing local government elections in Pigg’s Peak.” It continued to state that this issue emanated from the fact that too many people did not appear on the voters roll, which made it difficult to understand if they would be able to vote freely. The letter further stated that the other problem was that some residents had lost their voter’s documents since the process had taken too long. “The residents were hoping that the Elections Board would address them on why the names did not appear on the roll yet they registered. The residents, therefore, want the elections stopped,” further reads the letter in part.

encouraged

Pigg’s Peak Town Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mzwandile Ndzinisa said they had not yet received the letter in question. However, he said residents of Pigg’s Peak had been encouraged to object individually in writing to the CEO. “Please note that council has not received the letter you are referring to, that said, council’s official response is that the local government elections are governed by the Urban Government Election Regulation and, as stated in the public notice issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, residents of Pigg’s Peak have been encouraged to object individually in writing to the CEO regarding their details appearing in the voters roll as well as certain individuals they think do not qualify to be registered,” stated Ndzinisa.

The CEO further highlighted that with regard to the stipulated period of objection, which ends today, council was unable to stop the elections since this was a legislated process. A few days ago, the town clerk had been asked to clarify allegations that there were serious suspicions to the effect that some people who were registered for the local government elections were not residents of the Wards under which they were registered. In response, the CEO had stated: “During the voter registration process, residents of Pigg’s Peak were eligible to register in their respective Wards after submitting proof of residences, such as utility bills, lease agreement, etc. Following the public notice issued by the ministry in line with Urban Government Election Regulations, residents have been encouraged to object to the inclusion of certain individuals in the voters roll if they have knowledge that they do not qualify to be registered.”

Meanwhile, 1 824 have registered for local government elections in Pigg’s peak. In Ward 1, where there are residences such as Malandalahle and Bahloli, the highest number of registered voters was recorded as it stood at 630. Ward 2 incorporates Mangwaneni and had 293 registered voters. On the other hand, Ward 3, comprising of residences such as the central business district (CBD), Killarney, SEDCO, the Police Camp and New Camp, among others, had 399 registered to vote.

registered

Ward 4, with residences such as the industrial site, Account Headquarters next to Peak Central High (PCH), Highlands Inn, PWD accounts staff houses and Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) depot staff houses, among others, had 222 people registered under it. Ward 5 comprising of Mhlatane and Macambeni residential areas had the least number of people registered to vote at just 32. Ward 6, where there is Glen Township and Correctional Services residences had 248 people registered to vote under it. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development Prince Simelane appointed councillors Absalom Ndlovu and Thembisile Ngcamphalala as the interim mayor and deputy mayor respectively after dissolving the outgoing local government elections.

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