South Africans demand security and basic services as they vote in local elections

Frustrated and fearing for their lives, Khayelitsha Township residents confront a group of policemen over rampant insecurity in their neighborhood. Faced with daily attacks and robberies, they're asking for a constant security presence to help deter crime. Who is the boor and no beecher and when the... When the police leaves, we have to run back inside because there's always a shooting. We are living in constant fear and are surrounded by violence. We are suffering. People can't even go to work for fear of getting shot. Thank Feeling abandoned by the state, some residents recently formed a neighborhood watch to take matters into their own hands. you But insecurity is only one of many issues facing South Africans living in informal settlements. very In townships surrounding Cape Town, locals denounce a complete lack of basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity, much. as well as crumbling infrastructure and widespread unemployment. These grievances could now push some residents to head to the polls on November 4th to vote in South Africa's municipal elections. The Democratic Alliance Party, which has been governing Cape Town since 2006, says it's doing a better job than most and is pleading for more time for its policies to bear fruit. Compare it to, you know, to Tembisa or compare it to Alexander and tell me if the people of Khayelitsha are not living a better life. We're not saying that it is a perfect life, but it is something that we're working on and definitely to then, you know, be managed a whole lot better. While dire living conditions could drive many South Africans to cast their ballot, some for the first time, others say they've become disillusioned with politics and have decided not to vote on November 4th.