People claiming to be ANC members took to the streets of Tshwane this week to vent their frustration at the ruling party’s decision on party lists and the mayoral candidate. With the ANC and Democratic Alliance in a closely contested battle for the metro, we asked Tshwane township residents if they would vote ANC come August 3.
Nala Mngomezulu (28)
The issue is not about voting for which party. As people we are looking for a legacy, not necessarily ANC or Democratic Alliance or Economic Freedom Fighters. However, what is happening in South Africa is that we have become an individualistic country where dog eats dog; [it’s]each man for himself. So the value of voting is complex and has lost its essence based on the moral compass of our people, which is sad. It leaves someone sceptical [over whether] to vote or not to vote.
Tshofo Mokoena (20)
No. A lot is not going right. People are complaining about how messed up it is. There is poor service delivery. They promised us a lot of things and now they are unable to deliver. Dustbins are not regularly collected and we end up living in dirt. They promised that we would live in clean areas. I used to vote for the ANC then, when it used to take care of us, but I’m not going to vote for it this time.
Smangelo Maselwoa
No. I don’t like the ANC because we cannot find jobs. We don’t have tarred roads where I stay in L section, Soshanguve. Weeks pass by without water and electricity working. I’m going to vote for the DA. The section that the DA runs here is beautiful and everything is working. They have tarred roads, streetlights. They have everything.
Nhlanhla Maphosa (25)
No. I’m unemployed. We cannot find jobs because the ANC has its own people that it gives jobs to. The current councillor does not do anything for us. We’ve complained about a lot of things but nothing happened. We want to work but we cannot find jobs. I need a job, anything. I sometimes do criminal activities but I no longer want to do that. I need a job.
Mesie Linah Zungu (21)
Yes, I’m going to vote for the ANC. We come too far with the ANC. We can’t abandon it just like that. We can witness what it has done for us since 1994. Education has improved compared to previous years during apartheid. This is because of the ANC. I won’t talk about [President Jacob] Zuma because people like to bad-mouth the ANC because of Zuma. This is not about Zuma; it’s about the ANC. Just like now, people are protesting because they have [chosen] Thoko Didiza [as mayoral candidate]. You have to look at the ANC itself and where we come from and where it’s taking us.
Mashadi Medupi (21)
Yes. Since the ANC took over, it brought change to our country. Now I’m able to study freely because of it. I have [student financial aid] and things are good. We are now free to walk wherever we want to walk. There is no more Afrikaans; we are able to study in our own languages. I’m free because I’m no more scared to walk on the streets carrying dompas [a pass]. I hope the ANC will bring more change. I was born ANC and I will die ANC.
Thabile Sandleni (23)
Yes. It has brought a lot of change to the place I come from. I’m from a rural area in Nelspruit. The ANC gave us water and tarred roads. I’ve grown up like this because of the ANC. My grandmother is getting social grants because of the ANC. I’m getting free education because of the ANC. If in future I’m going to be involved in politics, I’ll join the ANC. What the president does is not my business. As long as the ANC provides, I’ll keep on voting for it. — Oupa Nkosi