Some voters in KZN's uMshwathi must cross river to cast their ballots
About two hundred voters live on what they call the wrong side of Kamelhouk.
Thabiso Goba
Determined voters in uMshwathi, KwaZulu-Natal, have to cross the river to get to the voting station. Picture: Nwabiso Dlamini
Nwabiso Dlamini
Some voters in uMshwathi, KwaZulu-Natal, have to cross a river to cast their ballots on Wednesday.
About two hundred voters live on what they call the wrong side of Kamelhouk.
A makeshift bridge, constructed out of two tree logs, is the only way for voters to cross the river to get to the Mpolweni Community Hall voting station.
Kamelhouk resident Sdumo Gwala is on his way to vote.
He’s dressed in a long-sleeve black shirt, cream-white trousers and despite wearing formal shoes, he easily manages to cross the 10-meter makeshift bridge, balancing himself expertly on the tree logs.
“I’m rushing to go vote in the hopes that one day, life here in Kamelhouk will change for the better. We have to cross like this every day, even our school children. The situation becomes worse when the river is full.”
Another resident who crossed the river to go vote, Nduduzo Bhengu, said he’s also voting in the hopes that the new political leadership will bring positive change in the area.
“I’m not happy that we have reached this stage of elections without the municipality having fulfilled its promise of building us a footbridge. I’m not happy, but I’ll still vote.”
Since the turn of democracy, uMshwathi Local Municipality has been governed solely by the African National Congress (ANC); however, it now faces stiff competition from the emerging uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.