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By Anelisa Bentele
For the past years, National Elections Day has always been rainy but on 29 May 2024, it was sunny, the queues were not that long in the townships but very long in town, in the past, you would stand in the queue to cast your vote for hours even in the location this year it is different. South Africans are tired, only about 600 voters went out to at Ward 9 (Nombulelo), in Makana, to cast their vote, not even half of the expected voters.
In the past years during national elections, one didn’t need to go back to the town, she registered in but in these elections, if one did not re-register at local IEC office for one’s corresponding new voting station, one would not be eligible to vote. Several voters were turned away from stations.
One of those turned away, Linda Ncibi, said, “I was dismissed for voting because I appeared in a voting station that is in East London, I am so hurt I wanted to cast my vote.”
The middle class always makes sure they go out and vote but the lower classes tend to stay at home because of a loss of hope in political parties.
“I won’t be voting, I see no point of [sic] doing so, I am unemployed why should I then vote?” said Lonwabo Vazi.
Political parties and activists have a big role to play bring awareness to citizens about the importance of voting.
Lutho Deliwe said, “this year that I am interested to vote, I misplaced my ID. It would have been my first time to vote. I was excited.” Alot of voters tend to be interested in voting at last minute.
In Makhanda, Eastern Cape, the ANC won the elections, the DA took second place while the EFF came in at third.
Political parties will evaluate the results in preparation for local elections in 2026.
This article was submitted on 01 June 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.
