They queued from 06:30 to vote at the Rob Ferreira High School voting station. All stating their positive outlook on the election outcomes. “I look forward to a brighter future with stronger opposition parties,” said Mr Hendrik Pretorius.
His sentiments were echoed by the Grové family. Marilize, Fanie and Ria agreed that they were positive about the elections and the possible outcome thereof for normal citizens.
This voting station saw several first time voters, including Christelle de Jager (18), a pupil at Hoërskool Nelspruit, who said that all her classmates that are eligible to vote will be doing so today. “I make my own choices, ” she answered when asked if her upbringing has shaped her support of a specific political party.
So, apparently does Gerald Erasmus who finished matric in 2013. He studied the election manifestoes of all the parties, including the EFF. “I wanted to make my own, informed decision,” he explained.
Two other first time voters are not as young, but had up until now not felt the need to cast their vote. Dopey Sparrow and Justin Behrendt, however, decided that they needed to add their voice to that of others that want to bring about positive changes in the country.
Asked why many young people don’t bother to vote, another 18-year old, De Wet Erasmus, said that many of his friends feel that their vote would not make a difference. That is definitely a mind-set, agreed Jason Torr (18), who voted at the White River Town Hall. “Many young people have their priorities confused and don’t understand their role in society, they are also not motivated correctly by leaders in their communities to take part in civil society by voting in national elections,” Pretorius concluded on this topic.
Just over 3 500 people registered to vote at the Town Hall, with a similar number at Rob Ferreira school. Smaller stations like the one at the testing grounds recorded 440 registrations. Other stations are located at the AGS church, and on the Vergenoeg road near Rocky’s Drift (at the Geloftefeesterrein).
See galleries of White River voters at Rob Ferreira High School and the Town Hall.
See what Christelle de Jager and Jason Torr had to say about why they vote in this video:
See more video here
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