Rainier Kanes: I voted to save South Africa. Photo: Alice Mpholo
South Africans were out and about casting their votes in the 2021 municipal elections on November 1.
This is what they had to say:
Ken Read: We were lucky with our queue as elderly people. We vote in all the elections. We want a better government. That’s what everyone needs in this country. Things have to come right. Photo: Alice MpholoMandla Hanise: The process was very smooth, the guys know what they are doing. I voted because we need change. If we don’t vote, this country is going to go down the drain. There is corruption, there are no jobs, there is no service delivery. I think 27 years is long enough. We have waited long enough. We have been very patient. The ANC has disappointed black people. Photo: Alice MpholoJohannes Steenkamp: I am voting because I care for my country. Photo: Alice MpholoThivho Dzivhani: This is my first time voting. I just realised that keeping quiet is not going to help me in any way. I am so excited to have voted, I looked at that ballot paper and I just kept asking questions because I wasn’t sure what to do. But I am glad I did. I am going to be one of those who help the nation getting rid of the abuse from the ruling party. I am part of those who want change in South Africa. Photo: Alice MpholoWanda Merrington: We came just after 06:00. However, the bottleneck as you go into the gate; there’s only one scanner. So if there were two rows for the older and one scanner for the normal people the queues would go much quicker. It’s not long when you get inside. They have everything nicely marked. If they don’t sort out and get two or three scanners, the queues are going to be longer. The voting process would have been much much quicker and much easier because there are enough staff and enougCarl Lingens: It’s important that we build young people in SA, especially underprivileged rural South Africans. We as citizens all have a responsibility to ensure that we assist in any way we can to fix the problems in this country. It is important that we do our part. The importance of voting is to show that we have the opportunity to make a difference in our country. Voting is a vital step in assisting to fix economic ills that plague this country. Voting is a way for South Africans to becomeRonel Leeke: I am just relieved that I have done it. It’s each South African’s duty to vote. If you don’t vote, you can’t complain about anything afterwards and I am just happy its over and done with. Photo: Alice MpholoAngelique van der Westhuizen: Every vote counts. Even though everybody feels that ‘I have been voting for so long and there is no change or whatever the case might be’, that vote that I just cast might have been THAT vote that makes a change. The process today is ten times better than last time. Photo: Alice MpholoRichard Leeke: We came early. It’s our duty to do it and as far as the process is concerned, I feel sorry for the people at the back of the queue. I was lucky because first of all I am over age and secondly I had a big accident a short while ago so I am hobbling around. But they allowed for that. Everything works fine. Photo: Alice MpholoMartin Boys: Now that I have voted I feel good. It’s my right. It’s not like a polling station, everyone is morbid. It’s really disorganised. Photo: Alice MpholoSusan Boys: I am happy to have voted now but they told my husband that he had to go and vote at Ridgecrest church. It’s just very upsetting. We have the same address but they told him to go and vote somewhere else. I am not happy at all. Photo: Alice MpholoLinda Dlamini: I will always vote to make sure that I exercise my right and influence the strategic decision that we all have to make as South Africans to form coalition governments so as to oppose the ruling party and have a say in the running of things – and perhaps improve things. Photo: Alice MpholoKobus van der Westhuizen: The process has been quite smooth. I feel relieved to have voted. You can’t complain if you don’t vote, you have to do it. Photo: Alice MpholoKyle Wilson: The process started off good but then it went terrible. The system showed that some of us who had registered were not on the system, so they have to write our details down manually on paper. This is my second time voting and I don’t see enough young people here voting. But we need hope for us as the youth. Photo: Alice MpholoTakalani Dzivhani: At this voting station at Ridgecrest, everything went fairly quick and the process was smooth. We didn’t really encounter any glitches. We want change, that’s why we voted. We are tired of this ANC government that’s why we are voting for other new parties. We are tired of corruption and the looting. We are hoping the party we voted for will bring change to our communities. The rates are too high, everything is too high because of corruption. Photo: Alice MpholoDumé Weidman: I would like to see some change. If we all just come together and make it happen, there will be a better future for everyone; for children to get a strong foundation and then work upwards. Mlandré Weidman: We want to make a difference, we want to see change and good change. We want a party that will create a culture of inclusivity. Photo: Alice MpholoNeylene Swanepoel: The process has been easy and everyone was helpful. I voted because I want to make sure that I have a say. Photo: Alice MpholoZandra Read: The process was very quick but our names weren’t on the list so they just scribbled them on a piece of paper. Photo: Alice MpholoStefan Weidman, Dumé Weidman and Malandré Weidman. Photo: Alice MpholoKhosi Mashego: The process went quite fast. There was a bit of confusion with the lines, I think they could have used more marshals but it was quite okay. It is my duty to vote, I believe strongly in the fact that we all need to do what needs to be done for the democracy to work and to show our kids that we don’t take it lightly. My kids know I am voting and I never miss an election. Photo: Alice Mpholo
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