By Karabo Ngoepe
As South Africans woke up to cast their votes in what is expected to be a true test for the ruling African National Congress (ANC), the turnout has been a mixed bag in different areas.
The townships in SA’s capital city of Pretoria recorded contrasting images. In Hammanskraal, North of Pretoria, an area that has been plagued by severe water problems for years, the youth was nowhere to be seen at the polls in the morning.
Many were scattered around corners and continuing with their daily lives. For them, the day was nothing special. Many of them said they did not see the point of voting.
“We have been struggling with numerous issues for years and nothing has changed for us. We don’t have clean drinking water and this has been going on for years with very little political will to change our situation,” said Amos Sibanyoni.
He recalled how the City of Tshwane, the municipality tasked with their wellbeing has been led by two different political parties but everything has remained the same.
“For many years, we were led by the ANC and for the past five years the DA (Democratic Alliance) has been in charge but we are still sitting with the same problem. What will be different this time around? What will they do differently that they could not do all these years? I don’t see the point of spending a long time in a queue to benefit a few people while I’m struggling,” he said.
Another resident is Joseph Shiburi who said unemployment is rife and jobs are given to those with political connections. He said voting and staying away was the same for him.
“I have been looking for a job for a long time but I’m still struggling. My brother has a degree but is sitting at home with me. What exactly are we voting for? We are tired of politicians using us to get power and only looking out for their friends and families,” he said.
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Two elderly women who braved the heat to go cast their votes also held the same views but still believed in putting a mark on the ballot. Julia Chabalala said she was not optimistic about anything changing but could not risk returning power to the white people. She said life under the ANC rule has not been ideal but it was better than living under apartheid.
“We are voting because we don’t want white people oppressing us. When it comes to services, we are not getting any. We are a forgotten people who only matter during elections. The ANC has failed us and I don’t see things getting better,” she said.
About 50 km away in Soshanguve, it was a different scenario. The youth was out in numbers and even excited to be voting. Those interviewed said they still harbored hopes for a better life. The queues at the stations were long and stretched beyond the fences of schools and creches used as polling stations. The heat did not demoralize those waiting to patiently waiting to cast their votes.
Moses Shikwambane said he still believed in the ANC and was confident things would change after the elections. “I’m currently unemployed but I believe things will get better. We have seen some improvements even though it’s not at the rate we were hoping for,” he said.
Maggie Sambo echoed the sentiments but believed the change would be brought by another party. She said the ANC has been in power for too long but has failed to deliver for them.
“We need to give other people a chance. I believe if we have someone else in power then we might see things improving. We can’t keep going back to the same organisation that is concerned about enriching its members more than improving our lives. I’m voting for change today and I would like to encourage others to do the same,” she said.
Political parties were also stationed in front of the polling station clad in their different regalia. Others were even using their cars and kombis to ferry voters to the station.
