Residents of Miga village near Mafikeng in North West have called off an election day protest against delays in electrifying their homes, the local government department said on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele said they had intended to block the South African-Botswana railway line in Ramatlabama as well as boycott and disrupt the elections.
”The community leaders suspended their planned action after the assurance that electricity will be installed in the village next week.”
He explained that representatives from Mafikeng local municipality, Eskom and the department of local government met on Tuesday to resolve the issue.
Earlier this month residents had decided not to vote and barricade the railway line.
Kgwele said the electrification had been budgeted for in the current financial year.
”A community meeting will be held this afternoon [Tuesday] to report back and encourage people to vote,” he said.
Kgwele said the electrification of the 168 houses had been delayed due to processes that had to be followed before the project could start. — Sapa