Voters in Alex trickled in at various polling stations on 26 and 27 January to register for the May National General Elections.
First-time voters went to register their names and the already registered ones to ensure they are still in the roll. Those who relocated since the previous elections changed their addresses to ensure they will vote in the provincial ballot. Pundits say the poll by over 100 political parties will be hotly contested and second most attended since the first historical democratic elections of 1994.
They will take place in the aftermath of the uneasiness deriving from many negative developments besetting the country in the public, private sectors and in individual life. These range from among others, corruption and cronyism which has prompted probes by several commissions, ineptness causing a rise in unemployment, poor service delivery, moral decay, racism and unrelenting crime.
President Matamela Ramaphosa, coined the term ‘New Dawn’ as a war cry against these ills and as a campaign theme for his party, the ANC.
With political party agents at the stations predicting large turnout, few residents were seen trekking in with the buoyant ones saying their mission was to ensure change.
“Revelations of corruption and deviation of public resources by individuals has opened our eyes. We are now conscious against giving blind trust to leaders who turn against our wishes when in power,” 28-year-old Vuyani Ngwenya a first-time voter said at the East Bank Clinic station.
Invoking his secrecy right on his party choice he added, “I didn’t care about voting before until the pain from joblessness made me realised the importance of adding my voice to the chorus of complaints to ensure change when former president Jacob Zuma’s false promises turned to state capture and only less than 20 per cent of his promises fulfilled.
“Those in power should be honest, trustworthy, fear and expose corruption and, stop squandering public money.”
Maphakela Thaise (33) also a first-time voter and unemployed said he was prompted to register by the weight of suffering and disgruntlement with what was going on. “Seeing others flock into the station and the embarrassing way of life led by poorly paid citizens made me believe my voice will contribute to change.
“What can one do with R150 of pay per day at the end of the month?
“Able-bodied persons should be remunerated well to enable them to construct homes of their choice than to rely on housing handouts.
“They should not be dehumanised as perpetual dependants of the state.”
He added that low salaries have created a decades-old culture of indebtedness and crime just for survival. “Our eyes are now open and we know what to expect from the state,” he said decrying corruption including at a local level where the poor allegedly sell RPD houses for money for daily sustenance.
Others at Realogile Secondary School station said they were sick and tired of food parcels and free T-shirts. “We want substantive change and everyone knows that it will surely come in 2019,” said one who drove away before he could be identified.
Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/alex-news/125242/elections-2019-700-000-new-voters-added-voters-roll/
