The Western Cape Results Operations Centre (ROC), where GOOD Party secretary-general Brett Herron expressed concern about low voter turnout in Cape Town’s townships and on the Cape Flats.
The GOOD Party and United Democratic Front (UDF) have expressed disappointment over voter participation in Cape Town, with GOOD Party secretary-general Brett Herron saying some of the communities most affected by poor services, housing shortages and difficult living conditions were among those least likely to cast their ballots.
Herron said turnout in Cape Town’s suburbs had been strong, but participation on the Cape Flats and in townships was considerably lower during Wednesday’s local government elections.
Speaking at the Western Cape Results Operations Centre (ROC) in Cape Town on Thursday, November 5, he said the turnout gap was particularly concerning because residents in disadvantaged communities often had the greatest need for government intervention and change.
“It's so unfortunate really, the voter turnout in the suburbs was very strong. While in the Cape Flats and Townships it was very low. And I think that's unfortunate, which helps the Democratic Alliance - that the suburbs turnout in large numbers,” Herron said.
He said those most in need of government intervention were also the people with the lowest voter turnout.
“These are people who've had the most complaints about the services and the lack of services and the living conditions and the lack of housing. And so I'm disappointed at voter turnout in some parts of the city, but it was a smooth day and we'll see what the results show."
Herron argued that lower participation in these communities could benefit the Democratic Alliance (DA), which enjoys strong support in suburban areas.
GOOD Party hopes election support will improve
The GOOD Party was not performing strongly on the initial results leaderboard, but Herron said it was too early to draw conclusions while counting and the capturing of results continued.
He said the party remained hopeful that its support would improve as more results came in.
"Well it's still very early, so of course we're hoping that the numbers change. But it's - you know, we campaigned. We presented a vision for Cape Town that's very different to the vision and the path that we're currently on. And if voters didn't choose it, that's how democracy works. So of course we're hoping the numbers will improve."
Herron said GOOD had campaigned on a vision for Cape Town that offered a different direction from the city's current political and governance trajectory, but acknowledged that voters had the final say.
UDF also disappointed by voter participation
UDF leader Andhor Marks also expressed disappointment, saying many people had shown little interest in the electoral process.
The comments came as the IEC continued finalising the election count in the Western Cape.
The commission said approximately 1.5 million people had voted in the province, including about 900,000 in the Cape Metro. Counting was still under way, with the results process not yet finalised.