The 2021 municipal elections are just mere days away and for many voters, this isn’t their first time casting their vote. The trip to the voting station may be more familiar to some residents, however, there is a substantial number of young and first-time voters.
Even if you are not voting or aren’t old enough to vote, these upcoming elections are without a doubt going to be important. There are uncertainty and distrust amongst some voters and of course, there is the obstacle of navigating the elections in the middle of a global pandemic.
Some of the students at Charter College gave their opinions on the importance of voting in South Africa.
“Voting, especially in South Africa is critical because of the high unemployment rate and poor living conditions. In order to make a difference, everyone over the age of 18 should vote. Every vote matters.” – Shae Murphy
“If you want change, you have to vote for it.” – Liam van der Merwe.
“Voting in South Africa is important because the country is not in a very good or healthy state. A lot of people live in very terrible conditions; maybe voting for the right party will bring stability to the country. I personally think that the party that is ruling at the moment has blunt action to their promises.” – Tauananyabha Saki
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“It is important to vote in South Africa because you are continuing towards something that causes change, or you are playing your part in the small elections. Even if it may not count as much, it is still a contribution.” – Jared Bezuidenhout.
“There is an importance in voting as many people want things to change within the society. Voting for the right party could change the way things work, and could improve the lifestyle of many today. Many parties that are in control make promises that they can’t keep. Being able to vote for parties that would keep the promises they make could make a huge difference. To be able to help poorer communities and old-aged people more, you could make a difference and ensure a better country/ province in general.” – Hayley Hepburn.
