Pretoria – Soshanguve residents are in high spirits as they cast their votes in the country’s fifth general elections.
Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, is one of the largest informal settlements in the city. Driving around in the area, one is greeted by long queues of people who are looking forward to casting their votes.
Little ones, accompanying their parents are to be seen playing in the streets.
Voters who were queued at a voting station in Block H, since the early hours of Wednesday, brought warm blankets to keep off the winter chill.
An excited Keamogetswe Seale, who is voting for the first time, told SAnews he was excited that he was taking part in building the country.
“I want to be part of those shaping this country,” he said, adding that it is important that everybody vote, especially the youth.
An IEC official at the voting station told SAnews that voting has been smooth since the station opened at 7am and that no incidents had been reported. “All people processed have had their IDs and were on the voter’s roll,” the official said.
The long winding queues somewhat resemble those experienced in South Africa’s first general elections in 1994.
Frans Khoza, a local resident also from Block H, who is voting for the third time, told SAnews people’s lives are changing for the better.
“Before 1994, there was so much poverty and too many people were unemployed. After we voted, things changed for the better,” he said.
Thabiso Moema, from Block BB, told SAnews that with his vote he was voting for a better life for himself and his family. “I am certain that if we vote, our lives will change,” he said.
The unemployed Moema hopes that government will provide more jobs and reduce the levels of poverty.
Voting at the country’s 22 263 voting stations opened at 7am and will remain so until 9pm. – SAnews.gov.za
