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.
Truth be told, Young people (black, white, coloured) went all out to ensure they vote in this election๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. For those still in lines, please stay the cause๐๐๐๐ sek’sele kancane.
IEC ANC EFF ActionSA Bosa MK Mbeki
โ Vusumzi Mthetwa (@mthetwa_vusumzi) May 29, 2024
The amount of young people in the lines to vote ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ we really are gatvol
โ โค๏ธ๏ธใท ๐ (@wehikeandso) May 29, 2024
All those who called the youth careless people who just want to drink alcohol and have fun are being proven wrong today.
Young people have been standing in long lines since the morning, and are refusing to go home until they vote for their FUTURE!#2024IsOur1994#VoteEFF
โ Sihle Lonzi (@SihleLonzi) May 29, 2024
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.
Itโs 21:07, the voting line at Wits University Education campus is still very long but citizens remain patient. pic.twitter.com/OqjaD70kdV
โ Salim. ๐ฟ๐ฆ (@StainedCapital) May 29, 2024
@IECSouthAfrica please address the issues at Wits University. The students have been waiting in line for 8 hours and the temperatures have dropped. Please do something? pic.twitter.com/rWYZTQ1Hox
โ #GeneralElections2024 | Free Palestine ๐ฟ๐ฆ๐ต๐ธ (@YouthVoiceRSA) May 29, 2024
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 โWe want to assist everybody in the queue. We have no plan for a second day of voting, weโve never entertained such a plan. So, voting will happen until it concludes and until everybody in a queue is allowed to vote,โ
The IEC CEO, Sy Mamabolo, rejected the suggestion to extend the voting date to tomorrow, citing the risk of unintended consequences.โผ๏ธ
To those still in line: please stay. Your vote is your voice; this opportunity only comes once every five years. pic.twitter.com/OKacPFHAxg
โ TK_Nala (@NalaThokozane) May 29, 2024
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.
Stay in Line Mzansi. Your vote is your voice ๐๐พ #saelection pic.twitter.com/XqpcW0uVHv
โ Dr Collen Mashawana (@collenmashawane) May 29, 2024
Even if you vote at midnight due to the long lines, you will still be allowed to cast your vote
Just make sure youโre in the queue before 21h00 ๐๐ฝ
Stay in the queues guys, itโs a minor inconvenience yes, but we need our voices to be heard!
โ Xoli Zondo (MBA) (@XoliswaZondo) May 29, 2024
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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