BOPHELONG.- All systems were in place to ensure that South Africans have an opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote yesterday.

The community of Bophelong and Vanderbijlpark gathered in different voting stations to cast their votes as South Africans united for free, fair and peaceful elections. People queued at voting stations for the 2024 general Elections as they prepared to play their part in choosing who governs their country and province for the next five years.

Lerato Ntshala from Vanderbijlpark CW5 voted at Oliver Lodge Primary school said: “I am here to vote for change, as people are unemployed and our basic needs are not met. We plead with the government to bring change and be there for us as we are voting to put them in power.”

The National and Provincial Elections were held on all nine provinces with voting stations opening at 7am and closing at 9pm. Some 27 million eligible South Africans registered to vote in 2024 elections.

A community member from Bophelong explained why is she was voting, stating: “I am here today to vote for change, I am not saying ANC should be removed, but let’s give them last chance. I believe that people should change the way they do things the party is not wrong but people ruling it. So what I am saying is that lets give the leading party last chance. As Steve Biko once said, ‘The idea that blacks could define and organise themselves and determine their own destiny through a new political and cultural identity rooted in black consciousness’.”

SAPS and Crime Prevention Wardens (CPWs) were out in different voting stations to ensure safe elections.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Queen Khumalo said, “The reason why I decided to vote is that I want to see change, I can not just sit and say things will be fine without us youth participating in our democracy and claiming our freedom. As they say, ‘ It’s your democracy, own it’.”