Staff Reporter
As South Africans prepare to head to the polls on May 29, some residents of the Diepsloot township in northern Johannesburg have pledged to abstain from voting as they are complaining about the lack of action from the government on pressing issues affecting their community.
Long plagued by high crime rates and poor service delivery, the residential area has become a flashpoint for frustration among local voters.
Residents say they feel neglected by the government, with little being done to address the rampant crime and lack of basic services like streetlights and infrastructure maintenance.
18-year-old Diepsloot resident who was set to cast his ballot for the first time has vowed that he will note vote because it is a waste of time.
“There’s too much crime in this township and not much is being done about it. I’m not even going to bother voting, because nothing ever changes.”
The township made headlines last year after a series of violent incidents, including the shooting death of a local pastor.
The unrest has prompted a visit from Police Minister, Bheki Cele, who deployed the police’s Tactical Response Team to the area.
However, residents say the increased police presence has done little to curb the ongoing criminal activity.
“I can’t even report the people doing the crime because it’s pointless. The high crime is also because of the unemployment, there’s just nothing for us here.” Said a young resident.
Political analyst Levi Ndou of Tshwane University of Technology says this sentiment of disillusionment is not uncommon among voters who feel their concerns have been overlooked.
“The people of Diepsloot have been the victims of crime, violence and to a certain extent, neglect by the law enforcement agencies.
“Anything they raise about their safety and security, they expect the government and police to act quickly, but that hasn’t happened.” Ndou explained.
With Election Day less than two weeks away, the prospect of a Diepsloot boycott could spell trouble for political parties hoping to gain support in the crucial Gauteng province.
