Johnathan Paoli
Despite initial delays, elections in Germiston have commenced without any major hiccups at the Delville Primary School voting station on Wednesday, as people started queuing in the early hours of the morning.
Voters seemed happy and excited as they cast their vote in what is said to be one of the most important elections in the country since 1994.
Many of the people gathered at the voting station on Wednesday are first time voters who expressed their excitement and confidence in the voting process including Chezel Bouwer, a resident from the local ward.
Monique Scott was not only excited, but determined about who she was going to vote for. “This vote is one step closer to the future that this country needs,” Scott quipped.
Delville electoral commissioner Tebogo Makhetla said that despite initial delays in transporting some of the material to the stations around Germiston, the process has started smoothly, with community members casting their vote.
While at Germiston City Hall, heavy argument broke out from frustrated voters, following a misunderstanding in terms of the alphabetical order of the que.
IEC Officer Sibongile Nkosi however confirmed that the ballots arrived on time, and no glitches were experienced so far.
Representatives from the African National Congress, Economic Freedom Fighters, Umkhonto weSizwe Party, Patriotic Alliance and Democratic Alliance camped outside the hall, holding political debates with each other as the morning proceeded.
First time voter Onkabetswe Ngwasheng said while she remained undecided as to who to vote for, she believed that youth played a crucial role in the future of the country.
“Young people are necessary, because they bring new ideas. The older generation tends to be backwards,” she said.
Another first time voter, Luvo Mdolombo, however said he was completely sure about who was receiving his vote and was excited to participate in the elections.
“We are the future, and if we do not vote now, the country will be ruined,” Mdolombo said.
INSIDE POLITICS
