Daily Sun (February 10 2014) - IT IS officially the worst kasi in Mzansi. But over the weekend there was no voter registration. RESIDENTS SAY THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT VOTING UNTIL THE CONSTRUCTION OF TOILETS BEGINS.
Voter registration in MK Silvertown in KwaZakhele, Port Elizabeth didn't go well on Saturday and Sunday when residents disrupted the IEC voter registration process.
On Saturday cops were called in to disperse the angry residents, who blocked gates with sewerage buckets.
"Not a single person has registered for the election here since Saturday," Nogciniswa Ngcuthwa, IEC deputy presiding officer at Silvertown, told Daily Sun.
"When we arrived before 8am, we found the gates locked and we were prevented from getting into the community hall."
Ngcuthwa said they called the cops, who broke the padlocks and opened the gates - but no one registered.
"At about 4.45pm two men arrived and insulted us and called us by our private parts,'' she said.
"One of them showed us a knife and forced us to close the station.
"He accused us of using their votes to enrich ourselves."
She said that yesterday no one registered because residents were standing in front of the gate, threatening those who wanted to register.
Ngcuthwa said Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor, Ben Fihla, was also called to address the residents, who were demanding houses.
"But they wouldn't listen to his promises either," she said.
Witness Maphisa (76), a resident, told Daily Sun: "We live in a pigsty. Buckets are overflowing. There is no water and electricity in our homes."
She said they were relocated in 1987 from Red Location in New Brighton to this area in order to make way for the Red Location Museum.
"Census said we are the worst kasi in Mzansi, but government does nothing to help us,'' she said.
"There are more than 500 shacks here, and we have big families of up to 10 people per shack."
She said they are sick and tired of empty promises.
"Enough is enough. Our votes are not for self-enrichment. We want a better life," she said.
According to Census 2011, MK Silvertown is the worst township in the country.
Because of this Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele visited the area and promised to change lives, and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe visited the area on World Aids Day.
Residents vowed not to vote until they see construction taking place.
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