The voting process at Germiston High started slowly this morning, but officials reported a steady increase in voter turnout as the day progressed.

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Early in the day, technical issues with the system going offline and the inability to scan IDs posed significant challenges. However, officials resorted to manual ID capture, promising to update the system online later.

Among the voters was the Tsholwana family, who emphasised the importance of participating in the election given the country’s current challenges.

Zinhle Tsholwana highlighted the need to vote for a better future for her son, stating, “We need to ensure that we leave the next generation with hope and a better South Africa, and currently the country is giving little hope.”

Her mother, Mandisa Tsholwana, who also voted in the historic 1994 elections, underscored the significance of today’s vote.

“When we voted in 1994, we were voting for hope,” she said, reflecting on the ongoing importance of civic participation.