Dry taps and joblessness the main issues expressed by some Limpopo youth ahead of polls

JANE FURSE - Some of the African National Congress’s (ANC’s) young supporters in Limpopo have rubbished criticism that there has been a decline in the quality of life in the province on the ANC’s watch.
 
Eyewitness News spent a better part of the weekend documenting the concerns and frustrations of citizens across the province north of the country. This as they complained about poor service delivery, deteriorating health care services, and soaring crime and unemployment.

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Statistics released in August 2023 show that even police aren’t well equipped to tackle crime, while nearly 50% of the province’s population is unemployed.
 
Broken promises, dry taps, and joblessness are the three main issues that were expressed by a group of young men from Jane Furse who spoke to Eyewitness News while doing what they usually do - playing dice along the street corners of this bustling town.
 
When asked if they were hopeful that the ANC-run government would bring some change to their lives, their joyful melodic whistles and conversations turned into anger as they relayed the many issues facing young people in the province.
 
However, in Lebowakgomo, avid ANC supporter Teddy Phasha described the party as a gift to those who are underprivileged in the country.  
 
“The ANC has done a lot for us. They’ve built RDPs and our elders get social grants. If it wasn’t for this party, things would have been worse.”

In the past elections, only 50% of Limpopo’s registered population turned out to cast their votes.