Alexandrians were up early to exercise their rights in what is expected to be the most hotly-contested local government election since the historic 1994 national general elections.
By 7am, queues had already formed at some of the township’s 36 voting stations at community centres, creches, schools, clinics halls, among others. The township had most of the 56 voting stations situated in Region E of the Joburg City Council.
Beauty More, manager of Thusong Youth Centre, one of the voting stations, said she was awoken by Alex police at 4am to ensure that IEC officials had started setting up the voting station. Some of the elderly voters at the youth centre said they arrived at 6am to avoid the long queues.
At Realogile Secondary School, about 100 voters has voted by 8.30am with several already returning home having cast their votes. When asked why the excitement, local resident Solomon Ndambi said a feeling to exercise his right builds up towards every election. “Many people want to have their voices heard through their only power, the vote. I also want it to be a lesson to my children, grandchildren and their own children on the importance of voting for their well-being. It’s not for government to give me a job, but for it to create a stable environment for all to live in peace and progress,” said Ndambi.
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At the Eastbank Hall, the African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Front (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) agents said queues formed from 6.30am and close to 70 had already cast their votes by 8am.
ANC agents Sizwe Dila and Sibusiso Kona said the outcome would be in their favour. “It’s ours so we have no fear, we worked hard through door-to-door campaigns and residents have confidence in us,” the duo expressed.
Ntombi Molantwa of the DA said they would sleep well as change for the better was in the horizon. “Residents will use the vote to change their lives, get jobs for their children, eliminate rats which injure children and eliminate and replace shacks with better housing, ” Molantwa said.
EFF’s Ward 105 candidate, Meshack Hlophe said he was waiting for keys to his office as the new councillor.
“Signs are there from our hard and visible ‘Mamela (listen) Campaign’ work that we will win. Residents also approached us for help with their broken pipes and cleaning of parks which we did only for council workers to follow suit,” Hlophe said.
At Kwa-Bhekilanga Secondary School, long queues formed for two adjacent voting stations which were said to have only one scanner. Complaining residents said the IEC and party agents should sort out the matter before tension could build up. Resident Agnes Nong said part of the problem was that two queues, including one for the elderly, had been formed at one station and residents were expected to vote alphabetically which delayed some of the voters who arrived early.
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At Dr Knak Primary School, voting also went smoothly except for a small glitch that was sorted out. The voting station had two queues and people were only told which queue had their alphabetical names only when they were supposed to vote.
The presiding officer at DH Carter Primary, Sibusiso Ngubo said his station opened 10 minutes late as they had to iron out little glitches but overall, voting went smooth and according to plan. “When we opened there was already a queue though not too big and we quickly worked it down,” he said.
Party agents at the various stations also expressed their happiness at the way the voting proceeded. “I am quite happy with the way the elections are progressing so far,” said Papa Tukane at Dr Knak Primary School.
An EFF agent even joked that all the EFF agents were doing was waiting for a victory party tomorrow as results start trickling in.
The Alex Police Station commander, Colonel Nhluvuko Zondi said in general, they expected smooth voting after placing sufficient officers at all voting stations in the township.
The IEC announced that the first results could be beamed starting from 9pm tonight until all are counted and verified by the weekend.
