Makhanda voters face critical choice amid years of water and infrastructure woes - EWN

[PICTURES ] The future of Makana Municipality’s troubled administration hangs in the balance as voters head to the polls. The Eastern Cape municipality which governs Makhanda (Grahamstown) has been plagued by years of financial & governance challenges @NtuthuzeloNene https://t.co/Q5zUXVdWhg

[WATCH] 23 yr old Mia Hattingh is among those hoping the election will bring change. She says young people have a responsibility to shape the country’s future @NtuthuzeloNene https://t.co/GNkBmYmLWB

Service delivery failures, particularly persistent water and sanitation challenges, are once again in the spotlight as voters head to the polls in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape.

Residents are hoping the incoming administration will prioritise basic services, infrastructure development, and housing, in a municipality that has endured years of financial and governance challenges.

Formerly known as Grahamstown, Makhanda falls under the Makana Local Municipality, which has come under repeated scrutiny over its failure to address basic service delivery concerns.

In June, the South African Human Rights Commission described the municipality’s ongoing water and sanitation crisis as a gross violation of human rights and recommended that the municipality be dissolved.

“Makhanda has water supply challenges. The town’s water is not clean, and I don’t even want to mention the issue of potholes. So, I would love the municipality to focus on infrastructure development," said Zenani.

Another resident, Geoff Tarr, says improving basic services and addressing longstanding maintenance problems should be among the incoming administration’s priorities.

“I’d like to see general service delivery, a bit of basic housekeeping, essential services jacked up a bit, and potholes. It’s a new democracy, so there are going to be some teething problems, albeit being 30 years in. But I think we can be better than what we’re getting," said Tarr