Election day in South Africa has always been cause for celebration. And while the shine of ’94 may have worn off, it’s still a day that gives communities a chance to come together. The M&G Online visited some of Jo’burg’s Northern Suburbs to catch up with voters over a cup of coffee.
At the polling station in Parkhurst, people queued with their kids and their dogs. The residents’ association handed out Fizzers to everyone. Voters who had braved the early morning cold hugged themselves to fight off the chill. And then someone came up with the idea of popping down to the shops for a coffee.
”We had one of the busiest Wednesdays in a long time,” said Kevin Xaba, manager at the Mugg & Bean in Parkhurst, which opens at 6:30am. ”People started coming in then. Some sent someone to buy [coffee] while others queued,” said Xaba.
At The Cheese Café opposite the Linden polling station, Jo and Brian Dick were similarly overrun with frosty voters in search of hot coffee. ”It was fun,” says Jo Dick. ”People were really in a positive mood.”
The Dicks are caught up in the festive election atmosphere. Two of their children have reached voting age since the last election. ”We’re voting later. I’m taking my mum, she’s 80. We’re all going as a family. It’s going to be great,” said Jo.
Her daughter Cassey, who has been helping out in the kitchen, is eager to explain how she prepared for the day. ”I went on the internet and looked at the manifestos. Cope [Congress of the People] was wishy-washy. I like things to be detailed.” She’s sure of her election choice.
”The DA [Democratic Alliance]. They were a lot more focussed in their manifesto. If they don’t live up to the expectations, you’ll know exactly where they went wrong.”
Steamy campaign
At the Wimpy in Greenside, families are taking advantage of the ”Cups for Votes” campaign, which offered free coffee to all voters.
Vusi Ndlovu queued for two-and-a-half hours at the Auckland Park polling station before casting his vote, then made his way over to Greenside to meet his sister, who had voted there. ”I’m voting for the old man [Madiba],” laughed Ndlovu.
Alongside the siblings are their new acquaintances Margaret Dube and ”granny” Frida Mamabolo, who had also stopped at Wimpy for coffee. ”I’m voting every year since 1994,” said Mamabolo proudly.
She was dismissive of those who say they won’t vote because they’re displeased with the African National Congress (ANC). ”Everybody makes their choice,” she said, crossing her arms.
As we speak, two elderly women painstakingly climb the two steps at the door, and show the cashier their ink-stained thumbs. Trailing behind them is a teenaged girl with earphones dangling from her neck.
”We actually didn’t know about the free coffee,” says Nomatter Ndebele (17) who had accompanied her 72-year old grandmother to the polling stations this morning. ”We were walking down the road and a lady said ‘Hey, free coffee at Wimpy if you voted’, so we turned around.”
Nomatter really wanted to vote but isn’t old enough yet. She’s annoyed with her friend who failed to get her ID in time to register.
”How are we going to stop Zuma now?” she complained. ”[The ANC] have been in power for 15 years.
Crime is escalating so clearly they’re doing something wrong.”
Just then her grandmother offered to buy her ice-cream. She jumped at the offer.