Teens will walk into the voting stations to participate in their first ever national elections today, many feeling that "voting for the first time signifies the first step of adulthood".
"It's of great importance to participate in voting, as you cannot judge the government if you don’t participate in the elections. This election will be of great significance due to the political tension."
It’s been said time and time again that the youth just do not want to vote. You hear every day about a young person being told how much has been sacrificed for them to vote.
Well, the 18-year-olds featured below have the opportunity to vote in their very first national election this year, and each one of them wants to prove that the youth will be participating in this year’s voting.
Derek Esterhuizen
“I feel nervous but also excited. It’s definitely a decision that is not to be taken lightly. It’s important to exercise all of our rights. The vote is something that so many people gave up so much for. If you don’t use your right, their sacrifice is in vain.”
Kgosi Mnyumba
“I’m actually very excited about it. I will be a part of something big. My first change vote. I can exercise my rights and make my mark.”
Deon Buys
“It’s of great importance to participate in voting, as you cannot judge the government if you don’t participate in the elections. This election will be of great significance due to the political tension.”
Logan Meadows
“It’s important to vote because it can create change and make the country a better place compared to what we currently have. We have seen very little change to making the country run better and to help it grow.”
David Akinpelumi
“It is important as a young adult to vote. For the first time, we can participate in the country’s political activities. It is our chance to influence the direction the country moves in, but it’s also our responsibility to lead the country in a safe and healthy direction. Voting for the first time signifies the first step of adulthood.”
Zoë Warren
“I feel quite nervous, but at the same time a bit excited. I am just worried that I might not make the right choice. It’s important to vote because it’s necessary for everyone to have a say in how the country will/ should be run. We need to appreciate the opportunity we’ve been given because of past sacrifices.”
Marnus du Toit
“Ek is ongelooflik opgewonde om op 18 al die geleentheid te kry om te stem. Dit is ‘n eer. Ek hoop ek maak die regte keuse om die ekonomie van ons land op te stoot, want elke stem tel.”
Chanté Smith
“Ek wil stem omdat ek ‘n bydrae wil lewer en deel wees van ons land. Ek glo dat die toekoms van ons land bepaal sal word deur mense wat bereid sal wees om aksie te neem en om ‘n verskil te maak.”
Jani van Biljon
“Ek voel dat die mense van ons land nie almal wil stem nie, omdat hulle aanneem dat hul stem nie saak sal maak nie. Ek is opgewonde om te stem vir die eerste keer, want vir die eerste keer gaan dit voel of ek ‘n rol speel in die bestuur en magsuitvoering van ons land.”
Adrian van Niekerk
“Elke stem tel, sodat ons deel kan wees van die land se groei voorentoe. Ek voel geëerd om nou deel te wees van die besluit wat die hele Suid-Afrika sal beïnvloed. Al is my stem net een, saam ander sal dit ‘n verskil maak.”
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
