Download PDFThe residents of Kwa-Thema Karibu! spoke to say they feel they are in a sticky situation going to the big voting day as they are also not optimistic about change. The residents say they are made false promises by political parties especially the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
“We’ve been voting for years but there has never been change. It actually seems like these political parties are consistent with not bringing any change and just eating funds meant to be spent to make Kwa-Thema a better place. Even when there are tenders we don’t get jobs because most of these politicians just do (sic) nepotism. They give […] jobs to their families and friends forgetting about the rest of us,” said Zandile Mahlangu (30) years old from Kwa-Thema.
“This year will be my first year voting. And the more I think about voting, the more I realise that I don’t even know which party I will be voting for. The reason I’m voting is because they always say your vote is your voice. I’m not sure this is true seeing that there hasn’t been progress with these political parties. Our people are still suffering from having decent homes with toilets, jobs, and proper public facilities like clinics and libraries. I do not know what to do and it’s heartbreaking not having any hope for the future,” commented soon-to-be-20-year-old Njabulo Ntuli, a Student at Ekurhuleni East College.
The evidence shows that people are tired of hearing false promises when the parties campaign, saying they will bring about change. People have been fed unfulfilled promises for decades now and yet political parties still campaign using the same strategy.
“I also used to push the narrative for ANC saying there will be change in this community. But as I entered the political world I saw the world in a different way. Even with getting tenders the money just felt like it wasn’t enough. That’s why most projects always get delayed…”, said former community councillor Bhusakhwe, before continuing by saying, “Now I’m no longer a part of the ANC and have joined Umkhonto Wesizwe party.”
To vote or not to vote? That is the question for the citizens of Kwa-Thema as the time for voting is near, although some still harbour some hope for change, most are pessimistic.
Whether voting can bring change and improve the lives of working class people is a question that poor people throughout the country have to ask and not just the community of Kwa-Thema.
This article was submitted on 21 April 2024. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
