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Young South Africans high-five each other for voting

todayMay 30, 2024 45

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As vote counting continues in one of South Africa’s most hotly contested elections since the dawn of democracy, young people have taken to social media to thank one another.

ย Last night, thousands of South Africans, young and old, braved the cold and waited in long lines across the country, dead set to make theirย mark and shape their democracy.

ย “This is our 1994, so I will wait until my voting station closes. That’s how important today is to me! We are tired of the empty promises and lack of accountability”

Voters were spoilt for choice, as they had to choose from aย record 70 parties and 11 independents.

ย The long lines snakedย around the Wits University campus in Braamfontein had some comparing the young people’s determination to thatย of South Africansย whoย waited in lines back in 1994.

ย Some even suggested that perhaps the IEC should have set aside two days for voting.

A suggestion the electoral body said it had not considered.

According to the IEC, this year’s voter turnout was way higher than that of 2019.

ย โ€œWe want to assist everybody in the queue. We have no plan for a second day of voting, weโ€™ve never entertained such a plan. So, voting will happen until it concludes and until everybody in a queue is allowed to vote,โ€

ย After the IEC’s announcement that everyone in line will be allowed to vote, social media was abuzz with South Africans calling on those who were still sitting at home, undecided on voting to head to their polling stations and participate in the democracy.

They also encouraged those still in line to not give up.

Some young people YNews to in spoke to in Roodepoort say they voted for a government that will listen to them and not make empty promises.

 

ย 

In areas such as Tembisa, Waterkloof, and Centurion, young people shared how they were tired of being let down by the current administration.

 

ย While there is still no clarity on which party will win, the IEC assured South Africans that it will be able to release the final results within the next seven days.

Written by: Nokwazi Qumbisa

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