DP Mashatile makes his mark

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has cast his vote at the St Johannes Church in Kelvin, Johannesburg.

After casting his vote, the Deputy President called on all South Africans to exercise their right to make a mark.

“All I want to do is call on all South Africans to go out and exercise their right to vote. It’s a right that we all fought hard for as South Africans. [With] 30 years of democracy, we still remain a very strong democratic country and our votes will ensure that we sustain that,” he said.

Mashatile commended South Africans for observing peaceful elections thus far.

“I’m quite happy that in most parts of the country, the elections are proceeding peacefully and…we do hope that at the end of the voting process, everything would have gone well and South Africans would have exercised their rights,” Mashatile said.

Citizens doing their part

This year’s elections have seen a high number of young people registering to have their voices heard.

Some 78% of all new voter registrations were by people aged between 16 and 29.

First time voter, 27-year-old Keke Rahlao said she wants to see an improvement in the lives of South Africans.

“I went to vote because I want to see a change in the country. I want the living conditions and employment conditions to be different for the upcoming generations. I also want living conditions to be better for our mothers and fathers.

“I went to vote because I want to see a change in governance,” she said.

Another first time vote, Thuto Bodumelo, 27, said voting was an observation of his civic duty.

“As a citizen, I feel like it’s important to vote. It’s a constitutional right and it is my constitutional duty to exercise it. I feel like as someone who is clamouring for change, my vote would go a long way to improving governance and service delivery. So I just want to make that little change,” he said.

Voting stations close at 9pm, with vote counting expected to start shortly thereafter. – SAnews.gov.za