Violence hits voter registration

MOST voter-registration stations in Bekkersdal had been closed by noon yesterday as violence again flared up in the West Rand township.

Several roads into the area were blocked by large groups of protesting residents intent on disrupting the Independent Electoral Commission’s opening weekend of registration.

The police maintained a visible presence at the entrance of the township and Nyala armoured vehicles patrolled the area, which was visited by Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa.

Mthethwa’s spokesman, Zweli Mnisi, said there had been no protests during the minister’s visit.

But he said that the police were monitoring voter registration and warned that any person who intimidated the commis- sion’s staff or compromised the safety of any residents who went to register “will face the full might of the law”.

Bekkersdal has for weeks been gripped by violent servicedelivery protests.

Yesterday, protesting community members, mainly youths, barricaded roads with large rocks and rubble, making it impossible for vehicles to enter or leave the township.

Some pelted police vehicles with stones as they patrolled the area.

“If this doesn’t make our government listen, nothing will,” said a resident.

Police spokesman Brigadier Neville Malila said the area was quiet and “under control”.

Violence erupted in the township last month when protesters burnt down a community centre.

Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane visited the area to meet with community leaders in an effort to stabilise the situation.

But when Mokoyane attempted to address an angry crowd, she was booed and reportedly said: “People can threaten us and say they won’t vote, but the ANC doesn’t need their dirty

If this doesn’t make our government listen, nothing will

votes.”

She later apologised for the comments, but they had already sparked widespread anger in the community.

Kate Bapela, a spokesman for the commission, said one of its officials in the area was assessing the situation.

She could not confirm whether registration stations had been closed.

Last night, Malila reported that all stations had been reopened by the afternoon and were under police guard. He said they would also remain open today.

Shortly before 4pm, the commission reported that most of the country’s 22 263 registration stations were operational.

In a statement, the commission said registration had been affected sporadically in Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape, Malamulele in Limpopo, the Joe Morolong municipality in the Northern Cape, Lansdowne Road in the Western Cape, and in Bekkersdal.