Calm start to Matatiele poll

2006-03-01 08:23

Matatiele - Polling day in Matatiele dawned with a fiery sunrise that seemed to echo the temperature of the political debate in the town which officially became part of the Eastern Cape at midnight on Tuesday.

However, there was a relaxed start to voting at the three polling stations in the town.

At the town hall, when polls opened promptly at 07:00 there was a queue of 70 people watched by a handful of police as they made their way through the civic garden of roses and lavender to vote.

Earlier, at polling stations in Matatiele's two townships, Itsokolele and Harry Gwala, there had been only a handful of voters waiting.

Although several people in the queues said they were not unhappy about the move to the Eastern Cape, one said: "Most of us in Matatiele come from the Eastern Cape".

Others voiced their unhappiness over the re-demarcation. "I'm going to vote African Independent Congress (AIC) because I want KwaZulu-Natal.

"I am fighting that this stays KwaZulu Natal," said Lulama Ntshayisa.

'Not free and fair'

The AIC is the political party formed in opposition to the move.

Sitting Democratic Alliance councillor Sakkie Maartens said the poll was not free and fair.

"How can it be free and fair if we don't know what province we are in? The court hasn't made a decision.

"It is not free and fair. I don't care what the people say. Free and fair is (when) we know where we are going."

The Matatiele community has asked the Constitutional Court to rule that it remain part of KwaZulu-Natal. The Court said on Monday that it would hear further argument on the matter at the end of March, after the elections.

- SAPA