Ga-Chokoe residents boycott vote over ward move
Ongoing: Elections Hot
Residents of Ga-Chokoe near Mokopane in Limpopo stayed away from Mahlora Primary School voting station for most of election day on Wednesday. They object to being moved from ward 3 to ward 6 and cite poor services.
Residents said the municipal demarcation board did not consult or properly inform them about the move. They blame the municipal council for the decision. One resident said the new ward will not be able to address their problems.
Residents also raised service delivery complaints. Joyce Sekalo said one Apollo light serves the whole community, and the area is large enough to need at least four more street lights. Some residents have waited more than 30 years for proper housing.
Residents said the community relies on one water-pumping machine. They said more pumping machines, pipelines and reservoirs would greatly improve access to water. One resident said most people in the community did not register to vote.
Nare Chokoe walked to the voting station at about 1pm and voted. She said she sees herself as a resident of South Africa before she sees herself as a resident of the village. Officials of the Independent Electoral Commission were at the station.
Key facts
- Who
- Joyce Sekalo (Ga-Chokoe resident quoted on service delivery problems); Nare Chokoe (Ga-Chokoe resident who walked to the voting station to vote); Independent Electoral Commission (election body whose officials were at the voting station); municipal demarcation board (body residents say did not consult them on the ward move)
- What
- On election day, residents of Ga-Chokoe near Mokopane refused to vote over a dispute about being moved from ward 3 to ward 6, and raised long-standing service delivery problems. One resident, Nare Chokoe, walked to the voting station at about 1pm to vote.
- When
- 4 November 2026
- Where
- Ga-Chokoe, Mokopane, Limpopo
- Status
- Reported