Local elections: Chatsworth community demands accountability and action

Chatsworth residents and business owners are gearing up for voter registration and the local government elections, demanding accountability and action against corruption, crime and gender-based violence as they prepare to cast their votes.

Residents who spoke to the POST following the announcement of the voter registration dates said they demanded accountability and change in their communities.

Westcliff resident Bobby Mottian, 77, said he chose to vote for a candidate who was well-educated and equipped to deal with community issues.

He said he encouraged residents to also choose wisely when they went to the polls, and urged them not to vote for those who failed to deliver on their promises after the last elections.

“The candidates must be educated. They must be familiar with the by-laws and financial needs of communities. It takes two to tango – businesses must also take responsibility for corruption as they entice councillors with bribes for contracts, and this affects service delivery.

“All political parties must not shield wrong doers. They have to bring them to book, and those found guilty of contraventions of the law must not be eligible to stand for elections.  If people are inefficient and struggle to deliver services, they must be recalled,” Mottian said.

Samantha Lalbahadur, 51, a resident of Montford, said she had voted since 1994 and would continue to do so in the hope that their daily challenges of water outages and poor service delivery were addressed.

“I hope that the needs of South Africans are taken seriously. We are facing daily challenges such as the lack of water, high electricity bills, poor infrastructure and neglected sporting facilities. I will be voting for a better future for all South Africans. 

“I am also voting for change in terms of gender-based violence (GBV). I would like to see harsher sentences and punishment  for GBV offenders, and for victims to be taken more seriously. The government has already made a positive step by classifying GBV as a national disaster, and now the laws must be upheld,” she said.

Keith Pillay, 36, a community leader in Croftdene, said he hoped for an effective and competent ward councillor who understood the needs of the community, and who was willing to work consistently to resolve local issues.

“Residents need a councillor who is accessible, accountable, and focused on service delivery rather than politics. Local government is closest to the people. The person elected must actively engage with the residents and ensure that municipal departments respond to problems affecting the community.

“I would like to see stronger preventative action. The municipality has its own statutory law enforcement and metropolitan police whose mandate includes crime prevention. Unfortunately, many municipal recreational facilities and infill sites have become derelict and abandoned.

“These neglected spaces are often exploited by criminal elements and contribute to unsafe conditions in our communities. Increased police patrols and greater visibility in these areas would go a long way towards deterring crime. At the same time, the municipality must prioritise restoring and maintaining public facilities so that they serve the community rather than becoming hot spots for criminal activity,” he added.

Karthie Chetty, 57, of Havenside, said he hoped his vote contributed to accountable leadership, better service delivery, and policies that improved everyday life for ordinary people. 

“There should be stricter enforcement of laws, transparent investigations, and real consequences for those involved in corruption. I hope for improved policing, better community safety initiatives, and investment in prevention through education, employment opportunities and social support,” Chetty said.

Chatsworth businessman Christopher Moodley, 39, said he would vote for a ward councillor who he believed would bring constructive change and improved governance.

“We want to see multifaceted plans towards transformation. We need more youth-based activities and engagement towards crime reduction, and open data initiatives empowering citizens with access to information, allowing them to scrutinise government spending and decisions, stronger legislation on GBV to protect victims, and hold perpetrators accountable,” Moodley added.

Electoral Commission announces voter registration dates 

The Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced that voter registration will be held on June 20 and 21. 

Following the completion of the process of voter registration, the IEC said it would wait for the proclamation of the election date by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa.

The commission said in a press release last week that an early announcement of an election date was critical to allow South Africans to decide where they would be on voting day, as this directly determines where they register.

Once Hlabisa proclaims the official election date, eligible voters will have until midnight of that day to register.

The commission emphasised that voters must register and vote where they ordinarily reside, as there is no legal facility to vote outside of one’s registered voting station in a local government election.

“This is a necessary requirement as it ensures that voters vote in a ward election that has a relationship with their place of ordinary residence. In other words, voters vote for ward councillors to represent the communities in which they live,” the press release stated.

The IEC said the latest possible election date was January 30 next year.

Between November 2025 and March 2026, the IEC recorded over 260,000 new registrations.

They said there were 508 registered political parties.

“Twenty new parties were registered between October 2025 and February 2026. Of these, 299 are registered on a national level, while 209 are either registered on a provincial, district or metropolitan municipality level,” the press release confirmed.

In the 2021 local government elections, the IEC confirmed that there were 26.1 million voters registered.

Only 12,3 million South Africans voted in these elections. Voter turnout was approximately 45,79%. In 2016, voter turnout was 57,94%, compared to 57.6% in 2011.

In 2006, 48,4% of voters pitched at the polls, while the 2000 local government elections drew 47,33% of voters.

THE POST