“I too voted for the ANC” Kedijang Sefatsa (39) is a grade three teacher at the Ntswephepa Public School in Tumahole, Parys, in the Free State.
I arrived here (at the voting station at Phehellang Secondary School, Tumahole) at about 9am and it was very cold, writes Sefatsa.
What I first observed is that there were more people queuing than in the previous election. The youth in particular braved the freezing weather in great numbers to cast their votes. I think this election means a lot to them.
The queues were fast, but there was not too much activity, only people coming in and out of the station.
Another observation I made was that most of the voters are supporting the ANC because Tumahole is traditionally a home for the party. I too voted for the ANC.
I don’t expect changes overnight but am confident that the ANC will keep on delivering its promises.
I think the other reason is that people support the ANC because it is the only party they know to have built houses, put up lights and connected water pumps for them. There seems to be very little support for the other parties here.
“My vote means I’m free”
Selina Bezuidenhout (60) is a retired domestic worker from Elsiesriver, Cape Flats, in Cape Town. Despite the fact that she “really dislikes” Umshini Wami she is voting for the ANC.
‘Now that I’ve given my vote to the ANC, it’s their turn to do the work and make sure that all those hungry and homeless people get decent houses and food,” says Bezuidenhout, who voted at the Eureka School in Elsies on Wednesday afternoon.
Bezuidenhout says she’s ‘probably the only person here voting for the ANC”.
“My neighbours and most of the people living in Elsies, vote either for Helen Zille or Patricia de Lille. The difference between the coloureds and I are that the ANC brought us the vote for the first time in 1994. They could vote before that. The blacks couldn’t.
‘My vote means I’m free. I’m free. I’m free and I feel that freedom standing here making my crosses next to Jacob Zuma’s face.”
Bezuidenhout spent the morning in prayer, praying for ‘peaceful elections and asking God to help the tik-koppe [kids smoking tik]”. After an avocado sandwich and a cup of tea, she was ready to cast her vote.
‘It’s very exciting to vote. It’s like I count for something. I, Selina, make a difference. I vote for my dreams of a better life for my kids and their kids. Voting makes one think of the future – it’s very precious,” she said.
“I hope the party I voted for wins, but if not it’s OK”
Tumelo Kgobe is a 40-year-old taxi driver in the West Rand, Gauteng, who is “more convinced by the so-called white parties …” and says the ANC has done nothing for him.
Kgobe giggled like a naughty child as he was about to vote at 3.50pm on Wednesday at Thabang Primary School in Dobsonville, Soweto.
He said the school was packed with voters, but he was there for only 30 minutes before he voted.
“The queues were long, but they were flowing so I didn’t wait too long.”
Kgobe didn’t go to work today; he decided to take the day off to concentrate on voting.
“I’m standing inside the booth now and holding the pen about to cast my vote,” he said. “I’m a bit excited actually. I think I know who I am going to vote for and am confident that they will bring change, that my vote will make a difference.”
After voting, Kgobe said: “What can I say, we keep trying. I hope the party I voted for wins, but if not it’s OK. There will be a next time, I’m sure they’ll do better then. I’m going home now to wait for the results.”
“I’m so happy, so very happy to vote”
Thandi Tutu, a 29-year-old shopkeeper from Sofuthe in the Eastern Cape, says she “votes ANC because maybe one day they will give to me”.
I went to vote at the school at half past seven this morning. I first went to the shop and then I closed the shop and then I went to vote.
It did not take long, there was no queue. There were four people and me and my friend.
MaMbeki went with the car with two policemen. She did not go to the same voting station.
I’m so happy, so very, very happy to vote. I don’t know why, but I am happy to vote. I have to go now, MaMbeki is calling me.
“We should give Cope a chance”
Gené Olivier (34) is an ex-police officer in Sophiatown, Johannesburg.
I voted at the Westdene recreation centre in Johannesburg at about 2pm, writes Olivier. It went very well, very peaceful and quick. I was in the queue only for about 20 minutes. I stuck to my plan of voting for Cope. I just hope it makes a difference! I think the ANC will still win 10 to one, but I really hope that we can now get a non-racial party. I think we should give Cope a chance. They are the guys who know what the ANC did wrong, why things don’t work. I just hope I made the right decision!
See all our Mzansi voters