資料箱：水、就業與犯罪成為南非選民關注的關鍵議題

尼魯帕爾・蒂姆西納（Nilutpal Timsina）報導By Nilutpal Timsina

約翰尼斯堡，11月2日（路透社）——南非人將於11月4日在市政選舉中投票；在該國最大幾座城市，基本服務、失業和犯罪是選戰最重要的議題。JOHANNESBURG, Nov 2 (Reuters) - South Africans vote in municipal elections on November 4, with basic services, unemployment and crime topping the agenda in the country's biggest cities.

在約翰尼斯堡、開普敦、普勒托利亞和德班，民眾關切的問題從供水與供電不穩，到失業、公共安全及缺乏可負擔住宅不等。In Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria and Durban, concerns range from unreliable water and electricity supplies to joblessness, public safety and a lack of affordable housing.

以下是影響各主要大都會自治市選情的幾項關鍵議題：Here are some of the key issues shaping the vote in the major metros:

供水、供電與公共服務WATER, ELECTRICITY AND SERVICE DELIVERY

缺水與供電不穩已成為市政失靈的象徵，激怒選民，也侵蝕執政黨非洲民族議會（African National Congress）的支持度。Water shortages and unreliable electricity supplies have become symbols of municipal failures that have angered voters and eroded support for the ruling African National Congress.

約翰尼斯堡市水務機構的年度報告指出，該市約三分之一供水流失，主要原因包括基礎設施老舊、管線爆裂、漏水及非法接管。About a third of Johannesburg's water supply is lost, with ageing infrastructure, burst pipes, leaks and illegal connections among the main causes, according to the annual report of the city's water agency.

包含行政首都普勒托利亞在內的茨瓦內（Tshwane），也面臨供水與供電網路老舊及維護積壓等類似挑戰。Tshwane, which includes the administrative capital Pretoria, faces similar challenges from ageing water and electricity networks and maintenance backlogs.

市府監督報告指出，在包含港口城市德班在內的埃特克維尼（eThekwini），由於基礎設施老舊、漏水及非法接管，超過一半的供水在到達付費用戶之前就已流失。In eThekwini, which includes the port city of Durban, more than half of its water supply is lost before it reaches paying customers due to ageing infrastructure, leaks and illegal connections, the city's oversight report says.

開普敦為了跟上人口成長，已將大量投資投入供水、供電及交通基礎設施，不過長期供水安全風險仍令人擔憂。Cape Town has directed significant investment towards water, electricity and transport infrastructure as it seeks to keep pace with population growth, though long-term water-security risks remain a concern.

就業與經濟機會JOBS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

就業仍是關鍵選舉議題，不過各大都會自治市的勞動市場情況差異很大。Employment remains a key electoral issue, although labour-market conditions vary sharply between metros.

根據南非統計局（Statistics South Africa），約翰尼斯堡第二季失業率從一年前的33.0%升至35.9%，茨瓦內則從30.8%升至34.2%。Johannesburg's unemployment rate rose to 35.9% in the second quarter from 33.0% a year earlier, while Tshwane's increased to 34.2% from 30.8%, according to Statistics South Africa.

開普敦與埃特克維尼在主要大都會自治市中失業率最低，分別為21.9%和21.2%。Cape Town and eThekwini recorded the lowest unemployment rates among the major metros at 21.9% and 21.2%, respectively.

埃特克維尼超越開普敦，成為官方失業率最低的大都會自治市；同時，該市就業人數在過去一年增加約9萬人，達129萬人。eThekwini overtook Cape Town as the metro with the lowest official unemployment rate, while employment in the municipality increased by about 90,000 over the past year to 1.29 million.

犯罪與公共安全CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY

儘管部分犯罪類別有所改善，犯罪仍是南非各大城市選民高度關切的問題。Crime remains a major voter concern across South Africa's largest cities despite improvements in some categories.

第一季警方統計顯示，茨瓦內的謀殺、劫車和加重搶劫案件均較一年前下降。Police statistics for the first quarter showed murders, carjackings and aggravated robberies declined in Tshwane from a year earlier.

在約翰尼斯堡，謀殺和劫車案件也下降，不過暴力犯罪仍維持高檔。In Johannesburg, murders and carjackings also fell, though violent crime remains high.

開普敦記錄的謀殺案件少於一年前，但幫派暴力仍持續推升該市部分地區的命案。Cape Town recorded fewer murders than a year earlier, but gang violence continues to drive killings in parts of the city.

在埃特克維尼，劫車和加重搶劫案件下降，但謀殺和謀殺未遂案件仍偏高。In eThekwini, carjackings and aggravated robberies declined, while murder and attempted murder remained elevated.

住宅、負擔能力與城市壓力HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY AND URBAN PRESSURES

快速都市化正使多數市鎮的可負擔住宅與市政服務承受壓力。Rapid urbanization is placing pressure on affordable housing and municipal services in most municipalities.

開普敦吸引人口與企業湧入，受惠於COVID疫情後觀光業強勁復甦，但房價上漲、短期租賃及租屋需求也已造成衝擊。Cape Town has attracted an influx of people and businesses, benefiting from a strong tourism recovery after the COVID pandemic, but rising property prices, short-term rentals and rental demand have taken their toll.

茨瓦內面臨住宅與基本服務需求增加；而在埃特克維尼，部分社區的環境衛生服務積壓仍是一項挑戰。Tshwane faces increasing demand for housing and basic services, while in eThekwini, sanitation backlogs remain a challenge in some communities.

（尼魯帕爾・蒂姆西納報導；貝特・費利克斯（Bate Felix）與安德魯・希文斯（Andrew Heavens）編輯）(Reporting by Nilutpal TimsinaEditing by Bate Felix and Andrew Heavens)