Political leaders cast their votes across the country
Party leaders across the political spectrum flocked to polling stations on Wednesday morning, joining millions of South Africans in casting their vote.
South Africa marks a significant milestone in its democratic journey as it holds its seventh democratic elections, with the ANC having been in power for 30 years.
Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane said his community is concerned about unemployment and the electricity crisis.
The BOSA presidential candidate cast his vote in Dobsonville in Soweto.
Maimane said he believes South Africans are ready for change, and to steer the country in a different direction.
“Some people are telling me right here right now they have not had electricity. Some people are telling me that this church is symbolic of what is going on.
"I have been voting here every single time, and this used to be a place where people would congregate. But as you can see, the roofs are falling out. It’s almost a metaphor for some of what is happening in Dobsonville.
"Here is a community that is now without electricity and water in certain places. Unemployment is also rife in this community.”
Meanwhile, the ANC Gauteng chairperson, Panyaza Lesufi, said he is confident the people will re-elect the ANC so it can continue with its programmes.
Lesufi voted at Tembisa in Ekurhuleni.
"I don't want to sound arrogant, but you know there is one document that says the people shall govern. It never says the ANC shall govern - and if the people prefer us to govern, we really believe that we can. Therefore, we are confident that the ANC will be chosen by our people.”
He believes coalition governments will not work.
"Actually, they are worse than what we have because you don’t know where to account, and you do not know who the leader is. We spend too much time in meetings trying to satisfy each other instead of delivering service for our people ".
Mayor of Tshwane Cilliers Brink also made his mark on the ballots at Laspossie Kleuterskool (Nursery School) in Wapadrand.
Brink, who is a member of the DA, said he is voting for a change of government in Gauteng.
"It is an incredibly important election, a historic election, the first one where the ANC will drop below 50%.
"And I am voting to make the DA the biggest party in Gauteng because, in that way, we can remove Panyaza Lesufi as premier and install a new coalition government under the Multi-Charter Party for South Africa and help steer this country in the right direction.”
ALSO READ:
