Watch: No vote for a 50-year-old with no ID
Raphuthing stated that in 1994 she did vote using her voters card, but because she was young she did not apply for an ID.
A South African Resident said she lives like a foreigner in her own country because she is unable to vote due to her lack of an identity document
Speaking to the media at Hitekane Primary school, Chiawela, 50 years old, Imameleng Raphuthing said she has been having trouble getting assistance from several departments in order to obtain her identification documents.
She said, “Nobody is willing to assist me, every year when I go to home affairs for assistance, things are continually changing.
@sowetourbannews One resident of Molapo in Soweto demanding to speak to the President after he cast his vote in Chiawelo. #saelections2024 #soweto #caxtonlocalmedia
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“They urge me to bring specific paperwork, but when I do, they ask for more information—they even requested me to come with an elder relative so that I can get help but till today I haven’t received any assistance.”
Raphuthing stated that in 1994 she did vote using her voters card, but because she was young she did not apply for an ID.
She said the issue of not having an ID has negatively affected her and even her children.
“I have kids and not even one of them have an ID. I am a domestic worker and people I work for they take advantage of me and pay me small amount of money because they know I don’t have an ID.
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“The issue of not having an ID has negatively affected me and even my children because I can’t apply for schools and even social grants. People get free food, free housing, they have everything but for me I live like a foreigner in my own country and this is not fair.”
She said because she felt no one had listened to her in the previous years, she came to Hitekane where President Cyril Ramaphosa was casting his vote in order to speak to him directly.
“I knew the president would be here today that’s why I came. No one has listened to me in the past years. When I go to Home Affairs I become a laughing stock, that’s why I decided to come here and talk to him.”
Raphuthing tried getting the President’s attention but she was blocked by security.
