Why bother to vote, Phikwe asks

Selebi-Phikwe is on its knees PIC: KEOAGILE BONANG
Selebi-Phikwe is on its knees PIC: KEOAGILE BONANG

SELEBI-PHIKWE: The unimpressive voter registration numbers here are hardly surprising as the north-eastern town enters its third year of economic collapse, amidst the explosion of social ills such as crime and overall despondency.

Phikwe continues to battle the lingering ghost-town status brought on by the October 2016 closure of its economic mainstay, BCL Mine. While the Independent Electoral Commission is still fine-tuning the count, officials have already confirmed that voter registrations are drastically down in Selebi-Phikwe.

“During our meetings with them, some of the residents told us they could not register because they were not sure they would still be in Phikwe next year (during the general elections),” says IEC election officer, Sadie Ontiretse.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up