No service no Vote Residents of Phumlani Informal Settlement in Mfuleni protesting demanding services prior to elections.
Residents of COVID Informal Settlement took to the streets in protest on election day, expressing their frustration over the continued lack of basic services.
Instead of making their mark on 5 November 2026, they voted with their feet to decry what they described as years of empty promises from the government.
The residents, who say they have been living in COVID since 2020, said they are tired of making repeated plans for assistance without seeing meaningful changes.
Community leader Bandile Gali said residents were no longer prepared to give their votes to political leaders who have failed to address their concerns.
He said: “For years, we have been promised service delivery, but to date nothing has been done. We held a protest yesterday regarding these issues.
“We want to see water and electricity being installed. We can no longer be fetching water from neighbouring communities and we are thirty years into democracy.”
The protest also highlighted residents’ frustration with political promises, making it clear that service delivery will play an important role in determining which political party earns their support.
Residents said they want to vote for a political party that demonstrates genuine commitment to service delivery, listens to their concerns and takes action rather than making unfulfilled promises.
Gali added that the continued lack of essential services has left the community feeling neglected and forgotten.
He said: “Living in an informal settlement should not mean being denied dignity, decent living conditions and basic services.
“We will not vote for anybody until there’s a political party that will deliver our needs.
The community says they will continue protesting until services are delivered in the area.
They are calling on the incoming government to listen to their concerns and take meaningful steps towards improving living conditions in COVID informal settlement.
Phumlani residents tempoarily stopped voting after they were angry at the political parties for not listening to their demands.