Voters advise leaders during special votes

Monday, August 1, 2016

By Nosihle Shelembe

Pretoria – Doctor Tshwale, who cast his special vote this morning, has encouraged leaders to address issues that are raised by residents on a daily basis as they arise to avoid frustrations amongst community members.

“They must not wait until issues are compounded. They must address them as small as they are and deal with them at that minute level,” Tshwale said.

He was speaking to SAnews on Monday just after he finished casting his special vote in Sunnyside, Pretoria.

The 2016 Municipal Elections have started for those who registered for special votes.

A record of 719 222 applications for special votes were granted for the 2016 Municipal Elections. These applications include 315 597 (44%) home visits.

Tshwale, 41, said it was important for him to vote because he has seen changes in the country since 1994.

“One of the things that has changed is that every South African has the freedom to walk around in the city… that for me is very significant. In the past, people were not allowed to move freely,” Tshwale said.

He said that after the elections, he hopes to see an improvement in how municipalities deliver services.

Patricia Matolweni, who has been voting since 1994, said it was important for her to cast her vote because she wanted to have a say in who should govern.

The 58-year-old woman condemned the destruction of infrastructure during service delivery protests.

“People must not destroy the structures that government has already built because they are taking us backwards instead forward.

“If people have issues with government, they should go to their ward councillors or mayors to raise their concerns.

“In 1976 when we were students, we did not burn schools and structures. We maintained those schools because we still wanted to get an education and we wanted our children to use the same schools,” Matolweni said.

Thirty-five-year old Pinky Segodi said she is voting because she is protecting the country’s democracy.

“It’s very important to vote. We should not take it for granted and just assume that because we live in a democratic country, that it will always be the case,” Segodi said.

She said government has made a lot of changes in the country but she called for an improvement in the education system as well as addressing issues of infrastructure and unemployment.

“We want institutions that can create entrepreneurs who will create jobs. We need to teach our people to be job creators not job seekers,” Segodi said.

On Wednesday, all other South Africans will cast their votes in what has been described as the most hotly contested poll since 1994.

More than 26 million registered voters are expected to vote in the 2016 municipal elections. - SAnews.gov.za