#IMadeMyMark: Granny (101) excited to vote on May 8

With her 101st birthday celebrated on March 15, Doris Bennett can proudly say: #IMadeMyMark in several previous elections.

With general elections, like those on May 8, deep sociopolitical crevasses can widen.

It often exposes divisions among political parties, people and communities.

As an elder at Gerald Fitzpatrick Home in Bertrams, Gogo Bennett found time to speak about the upcoming elections, having grown up in a racially divided country. She hopes for a better tomorrow for South Africa.

Born to a black mother and a Scottish father in rural KwaZulu-Natal in 1918, Gogo Bennett, whose maiden name is Thompson, has registered to vote, and will make her mark during the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) special votes to be cast in early May.

Growing up during apartheid, she faced lots of hardships.

She noted that interracial relations, as with those between her parents, were seen as taboo at the time, and that she, throughout her childhood, would bear the brunt of it.

“In those years, black people were hugely criticised for interacting with whites. My mother would hide me and sometimes move me from farm to farm in an attempt to keep me away from the evil of apartheid,” said Gogo Bennett.

Also read: What does the IEC do?

On the contrary, however, she still hopes to one day see a completely nonracial country, in which everyone will be seen as equals.

She added that she is excitedly looking ahead to the upcoming elections and hopes that this change will finally be realised.

“I will definitely be voting in these elections if I am still around.

“It is a pleasure to do it my child, even though things seem to be getting out of control,” said Gogo Bennett.

Elaborating on the worsening social and political climate of the country, Bennett said corruption was the main evil, and ought to be rooted out and cast away .

“SABC owes money, Eskom owes money. I don’t know what those in power are doing but we ought to be moving forward for a better life,” she said.

She gave a stern words of advice: “Stop messing around and fighting one another. People should stop being greedy and should stop fighting for the sake of being richer. I even tell the other older people here, that we ought to all act as one,” she said.

• Look out for more on the upcoming elections in future editions in the lead up to May 8 when you can say #IMadeMyMark