Prominent leaders make their mark

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Pretoria – Prominent leaders have been spotted across the country making their mark in what is poised to be the largest ever Local Government Elections.

African National Congress (ANC) mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay, Danny Jordaan, has cast his vote in a rainy Port Elizabeth, this morning.

During the 2011 Local Government Elections, the ANC won the Nelson Mandela Bay by 51.91 percent of the votes.

Jordaan said he was expecting the ANC to win the metro by about 55 percent in this year’s election.

“We always had a massive turnout at all of our gatherings and people are telling us that they are going to vote for the ANC,” Jordaan said.

He said the turnout at the polling station shows the enthusiasm and the people’s readiness to cast their vote.

In Johannesburg, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane has cast his vote at Allen Glen High School in Roodepoort.

“The future of South Africa will be decided through the ballot box. Democracy means that you can choose your government, you can hire one, you can remove another one and we use the ballot for that purpose. South Africans must come out in their numbers to vote,” Maimane said.

He made a call for there to be no violence across the country during the elections.

In KwaZulu-Natal, President Jacob Zuma is expected to cast his vote at 10am at Ntolwane Primary School, KwaNxamalala, in Nkandla.

He has urged all registered voters, especially the youth, to go out and cast their ballots across the 22 612 voting stations.

“We urge all 26 million registered voters across the length and breadth of our country to speak, give direction and refresh the mandate of the third sphere of government through voting on 3 August 2016.

“All registered voters must celebrate democracy and freedom by turning out to vote,” President Zuma said.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Susan Shabangu, will cast her vote at Scout Hall, ward 20, Bedfordview in Gauteng.

While in Cape Town, media have been stationed at Milnerton High School were Archbishop Desmond Tutu is listed on the voters’ roll.

Other people spotted casting their vote included Western Cape Premier Helen Zille at St Paul’s Church in Rondebosch.

EFF leader Julius Malema is expected to cast his vote at Mponegele Primary School in Seshego, Limpopo later today.

Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza was at the WITS Education Campus earlier, along with struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada, to cast his vote.

There are more than 26 million registered voters in what has been described as the most hotly contested municipal poll since 1994.

President Zuma has declared 3 August 2016 a public holiday to enable all eligible voters the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote. – SAnews.gov.za