03 Aug 2022

Selebi Phikwe community will have the opportunity to make submissions before the Delimitation Commission on August 12. 

Speaking during the Party Liaison Committee (PLC) meeting on Tuesday, Principal Elections officer Mr Lesang Molome said factors that would be looked at to determine the boundaries and the number of constituencies included population quota, natural community of interest, geographical features, means of communication, population density as well as existing tribal administration boundaries. 

According to the 2022 National Population and Housing Census, Selebi Phikwe, with two constituencies of Selebi Phikwe East and Selebi Phikwe West, has a population of 42 488 people. 

However, the census shows a decline in the town’s population from 47 411 in 2011 to 42 488 in 2022, which comprises of 22 468 females and 20 020 males. 

Nonetheless, Mr Lesang said in the 2011 delimitation exercise the population quota was 35 000 but this year the quota had not been determined yet and it was upon the delimitation commission to decide. 

Mr Lesang urged all political parties, stakeholders and the community to participate in the exercise just like they did in 2011. 

In the 2011 delimitation residents of the two constituencies of Selebi Phikwe were unanimous in proposing that the constituencies should be left as they were in view of the fact that their population had not increased much since the 2001 National Population and Housing Census. 

Mr Lesang also informed them about a newly formed party called Glorified Citizens Freedom Party which the IEC had approved its symbol and voting colours. 

In addition, he informed the meeting that the PLC was made up of representatives of various political parties and other stakeholders. 

He said the PLC members interested in standing for elections were expected to resign from the committee as no politician holding office was allowed to join the committee. 

For his part, PLC chairperson Mr Mokgethi Nfila also emphasised the importance of the delimitation exercise, saying  it strengthened democracy and good governance. 

He encouraged PLC members to help mobilise the community to participate in the exercise. 

In addition, he said the demarcation of polling districts would follow after the delimitation exercise. 

Selebi Phikwe currently has a total of 14 wards or polling districts, with seven in Selebi Phikwe East constituency and another seven in Selebi Phikwe West constituency. 

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