#IMadeMyMark: My vote is my voice

As a born-free, I have taken a conscious decision to cast my vote for the first time on May 8.

Also read: A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION

Twenty-five years ago South Africa held its first-ever democratic elections.

After years of the liberation struggle and torment caused by racial segregation, those who yearned for a rainbow nation all queued up to cast their votes.

Also read: #IMadeMyMark: WATCH: ‘Why I’m voting’ featuring Edenvale High School learners

To this day, the events are still very vivid to those who were there.

And whenever I hear the elderly talk about the apartheid epoch, not only do I get to understand how pivotal the 1994 elections were, but I always appreciate the fact that I am a born-free.

I am saddened by the number of youngsters who will not vote this year as it should come as second nature to them.

And I was overwhelmed by the fact that 48 political parties are contesting the 2019 National and Provincial elections, with 48 manifestos and 48 leaders.

I think this just goes to show how many people are desperate to change South Africa into a better one, or it could be just how many people think South Africans are gullible.

In the past few weeks, I interviewed young people who are eligible to vote in the upcoming elections but have decided not to.

And I could feel their apathy and how crestfallen they were.

While some spoke about promises that have not been kept, others spoke about how the legacies of apartheid were still visible.

And those who are going to vote for the first time, like me, were optimistic and they believe their vote could make a change.

After every interview, I had to introspect.

I had to decide what is it that I want for my country and whether or not I wanted to remain silent and let people decide on my behalf who should govern South Africa for the next five years.

Ultimately, I chose my voice.

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