Ahead of polls, unemployment a major concern for Jane Furse residents

JANE FURSE - Some Jane Furse residents at Limpopo’s Sekhukhune District Municipality placed unemployment as their biggest concern as they prepare to cast their votes later in 2024.

According to the latest census, nearly 70% of people aged between 15 and 24 remain without jobs in the area, 30 years into democratic South Africa.

Eyewitness News spoke to community members on Saturday morning who visited the Electoral Commission’s (IEC) voting stations to verify their details.

Since the voting station at Lehlogedi Nursery School opened an hour ago, only three people came to verify whether they’re registered to vote in the upcoming general elections.

IEC officials stationed there have told Eyewitness News that two of them came to change their residential addresses, while one person inquired about their registration.

In the last 30 years, Jane Furse residents have had to contend with inconsistent water supply, electricity challenges and unemployment.

Paul Matlala, an avid African National Congress (ANC) supporter, said residents in the area needed to hold government accountable for failing to create jobs and not sticking to its promises.

"It's government for the people by the people. But now, to a certain extent, the people let the government do as it wishes."

He said despite the challenges the ANC government continued to face, he believed the party was well-equipped to release community members from the shackles of poverty.

"But the community doesn't really know and understand that people serve them. Instead of holding them accountable, they just keep quiet."

Figures from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) show that only 50% of registered voters in Sekhukhune voted during previous elections.