Springs also went to the polling stations

The people of Springs were amongst the 18-million people who cast their votes countrywide in the fifth national and provincial elections, held last Wednesday.

Apart from minor glitches and delays at some voting stations, the elections in Springs went smoothly and without any violence.

The only election-related incident in Springs was when a man picked up a sealed special voter’s ballot box that fell off a bakkie driving in Welgedacht Road on Monday.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, took it home with him and only handed it in at Springs Police Station at 8am last Wednesday.

The voting station Everest/Gugulethu where some of the residents showed their disgust about service delivery earlier during the week, opened at about 10am and residents went to vote.

Although not in their masses, people were voting during the Advertiser’s visit at the voting station.

Some voters in Springs started voting early, waiting in queues in thick mist while others waited more than an hour.

At lunch time the queues were much shorter at various voting stations. See some of the comments made on our facebook page.

Welgedacht resident Tseko Mashifane said the people had come a long way to vote.

Gladnis Nhlapo and her sister, Lindiwe Nhlapo, both voters at the Welgedacht Primary School voting station, said they still wish for peace and harmony in the country.

“We will be OK with the party that wins the election, as long as they improve the future of our country,” they said.

Police officials deployed at this voting station said everything was running smoothly.

In Slovo Park, Isaac Nong said things changed every day and hoped this election was for the better.

He also said a lot of his friends weren’t voting because they did not know the meaning behind voting.

“The government needs to educate the youth on how and why they should vote and also what is right or wrong,” said Nong.

At the voting station at Bakerton Community Centre, people were chatting and laughing while waiting to cast their votes.

Buntu Mnyandu, a born-free voter was nervous but excited about voting.

He was convinced his vote will make a difference.

Another born-free first time voter, Melandi Brandt, was excited to vote with her grandmother, Yvonne Brandt, at the tent next to St Catherine’s Catholic Church.

Although 1994 will live with Pravin Jugath for the rest of his life, he has subsequently lost his faith in the direction the country has gone.

He said he just showed his pension card and within minutes he cast his vote.

At the polling station at Jameson High School people were still standing in long queues to cast their votes at 1pm.

Many people at this voting station were optimistic about the future of the country.

People from Kingsway also arrived there to cast their votes.

Dersley resident Bernard White wished his vote would bring more job opportunities.

He added that the ruling party had 20 years to make a difference and things haven’t changed for the better yet.

He felt government should give someone else the opportunity to make a difference.

Senior voter Dilisa Moloi (81) was happy to celebrate 20 years of democracy and believed in a positive future ahead.

After all the votes were counted, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) revealed the results on Saturday evening.

Except for the Western Cape, which the DA won, the ANC won all provinces, including Gauteng.

The ANC secured 40 seats in the Gauteng Legislature, with the DA as official opposition, 23 seats, the EFF eight seats and a seat each for the IFP and VF Plus.

In the election for the national assembly, the ANC received 62,15% of the votes cast countrywide, giving them 249 seats in parliament.

The DA is still the county’s official opposition with 89 seats in parliament.

The new kid on the block, the EFF has 25 seats, the IFP 10, NFP six, UDM four, VF Plus four, Cope four, ACDP three, AIC three, Agang SA two, PAC one and APC one.

A total number of 94,43% of the registered voters made their mark on election day.