Johannesburg – Residents of Johannesburg south have given the Electoral Commission staff a thumbs up for quick and professional service as voting in some areas took less than three minutes.
SAnews visited voting stations in Soweto, Eldorado Park and Lenasia as early at 7am to get a sense of the voters’ wishes and how the voting process was going.
All the voting stations SAnews visited opened on time. There was a hive of activity with officials sorting ballot papers, envelopes, boxes and ink before they allowed voters who woke up at the crack of dawn to be first in line.
"It was quick, professional and the staff was helpful," said one voter.
Many were excited to have the opportunity to cast their vote which they indicated was their ticket to be heard.
They are hoping their votes will help improve their living conditions.
Some say they are not asking much from government - they just want RDP houses, sanitation and electricity.
Oupa Mlangeni, 68, of Protea, a suburb that was developed in the late 1980s for middle-class residents, was one of the first in line at the Titelo High School polling station when it opened.
He said the vote will allow him to keep track of the promises made by the political parties.
“This vote is my voice, my power that allows me to elect a representative to manage my interests. It also ensures that I have a have a direct say in what happens in my community,” said Mlangeni, who was happy with service delivery in the area.
Another community member, who was excited about the day, was Martha Thusi, also from the area. For her, voting is about honouring the past and reaffirming the country’s democratic future.
“I could not just sit and not vote. We might have challenges as the country but after 22 years of freedom - a lot has been done. In this area for example we have most of the basic services. We have schools, clinics, libraries and shopping malls,” she said.
Her only wish was that the new councillor continues with the delivery of services.
“But most of all – I want him or her to be in touch with us as the community. Hold regular meetings so that we can tackle and address the challenges together.”
Despite these, Thusi acknowledged that there were still challenges facing local government but was also of the view that voting is more effective than service delivery protests.
“Although there is change in my area, other communities closer to us don’t have basic services and unemployment remains high. But I am hopeful things will change as it is things are not the same as before 1994.”
Protest areas and their challenges
SAnews visited the areas that have seen protests around Soweto, such as Protea South, Kliptown and Thembelihle in Lenasia.
Although most of the communities have the same challenges, residents named the provision of water and electricity, maintaining roads and other public spaces but most of all the implementation of housing projects.
“Our mothers who came here as early as 1980s have given birth to children who have given birth to their children in these dark, cold shacks,” said Charmaine Klass of Kliptown.
She said life is a struggle for the community without proper housing and sanitation.
“When it rains we stay up all night to empty buckets of water from our roof leaks. We cannot go out to the common toilets at night because it is not safe.”
Walking around in the area one could see rutted and muddy roads that have communal latrines that stand useless and rubbish piled on the side of the road.
“This is what I will be voting for,” said Klass whose emotions ran high.
“I also deserve better services. We also want a chance to cook on electric stoves as well as live in a RDP house,” said Klass.
But others in the area had given up on local government and felt that counsellors only remember them when they need votes.
“I think they are embarrassed to face us hence we see them only during this time,” said Oupa Mthombeni, 46.
“Even when houses are built, we see them being allocated to other people not from Kliptown. So how do you expect me to vote? Vote for what? To live in the shack again?” he asked.
Despite challenges, voters eager to vote
In Thembelihle, despite similar challenges, the community was eager to vote.
The area, which has seen service delivery protests for over a decade, saw residents coming out in their numbers to cast their votes.
“Voting is my democratic right that can bring about the fundamental change in our lives. I am voting for accountability. I want to be able to hold the councillor accountable.”
Another community SAnews visited was Eldorado Park whose residents also came out in their numbers to vote.
Many in the area also indicated that they are voting for housing and better service delivery and youth skills development and opportunities, but drugs was a major issue that they wanted resolved.
With over 200 political parties and over 61 000 candidates participating in the country’s fifth Municipal Elections, over 26.3 million registered South Africans will put their crosses next to the name of the individuals and parties of their choice to serve their communities with honesty, integrity and commitment. – SAnews.gov.za
