Voting lines long but enthusiasm remains high

Midrand Reporter‘s BBM community was active while waiting in the queues. Many said the queues were long and slow.

Sholene waited to vote on George Road and said despite how long it took, she would wait to cast her vote. Vusi Ngqwababa queued at Ebony Park Primary for four hours. Toffie said the queue at Midrand High was three hours long and Tsepo Mashingo arrived at Midrand Primary at 6.30am and cast his vote at 9am.

It was an exciting morning for Theodora who voted for the first time. She arrived at an Alexandra voting station at 5am and only cast her vote at 7.30am. Phen remarked on how much the community around Midrand Primary had grown in size from the last time he voted there.

Ward 92 councillor Leepile Motsumi said he would vote in Kaalfontein. “So far we have not had any incidents but we will see how things turn out as the day progresses. I wish all registered voters a quick and peaceful voting process.”

Other than the remarks on the slow queues, only BBM contact Sweetness said the service at the Rabie Ridge voting station was “bad”. “They don’t explain to people, it was just a mess and a waste of time, but I am happy that I voted,” she said.

At midday, the  atmosphere at Carlswald voting station on Walton Road was calm and quiet, and while the queue was slow, it was not as long as some of the other queues in Midrand. Merlin and Linda Bentley saw an entrepreneur opportunity and decided to sell tea, coffee and juice to thirsty voters.

Most voters said they were voting for change and a better tomorrow. Tebogo Mosala said, “We have to make a change. We can’t sit around at home complaining. You have to see how you can make a difference and cast your vote.” Charlotte Modise and Nthabi Nene said they were voting to have a say in the country and what happens. “We are making our mark,” said Nene.

BBM contact Isaac said, “I know it is the right thing to vote for our country to make a change for the better and fight corruption for good. In Kaalfontein, Midrand, the queue was slow in the morning but then it started to get faster and everything went well. After three hours, I managed to cast my vote to the party I believe is going to change for the better for all.”

Thando Zulu braved the early morning breeze in Midrand to vote at corner George and Lever Road. She said, “I am excited to have finally voted. Previously I was not keen to vote but this time I decided I might be the change I need to see in my community.” By midday the number of people voting at the station grew quickly.

On Twitter, another Midrand resident @ntombikimora tweeted, “I am in a queue together with 30 other people ready to cast their votes in corner George Road in Midrand.”

The queue on Azalea Avenue and Lever Road Country View for the voting station next to the Engen Garage was one of the shorter lines.