Despite facing difficulties with walking, 85 year old Makinana Nontontle could not miss voting in this year’s election, 8 May 2019. Ward 2 councillor Ramie Xonxa is looking on. Photo: Zintle Rwaxa
When the Grocott’s Mail team reached Joza and Extension 10, it was colder, wetter and even muddier than any of the farm roads we’d just come off. Asikelelwe Pezisa, Zethu Hlubi and Sue Maclennan report.
Around 3pm, Samuel Ntlebi Primary School in Joza was abuzz with voters and IEC staff said it had been like that all day.
“We didn’t even get a 10-minute break,” one official said. Of a possible 1809 votes, 565 had been cast.
The Samuel Ntlebi voting station was very busy throughout the day. Photos: Sue MaclennanEven the neighbourhood dogs looked for shelter at the Samuel Ntlebi voting station.Party representatives abandoned their tables opposite the Samuel Ntlebi voting station to seek shelter from the rain.
Outside, on the pavement opposite the school’s entrance, tables draped with party paraphernalia stood abandoned and in soggy disarray, their operators huddled in the shelters of any doorway they could find as the rain pelted down.
A tip-off took us to the green-and-blue striped tent behind the flats in Extension 10 and it was a challenge to decide which line of muddiness was the road. Named in the IEC’s list of voting stations as the Assumption Clinic Tent, it was (very) roughly in the vicinity of Konongendi. With rain pelting down and the temperature now down to 12C, clutches of voters huddled inside.
A tent was used in Extension 10 instead of the Assumption Clinic. Photo: Sue Maclennan
Grocott’s Mail had been told that the voting set-up there was inadequate and that voters were being transported by their parties to alternative voting stations. But while the tent crowded with cold people, it was calm and orderly and we didn’t observe anything unusual there. The first votes counted in #Makana were that station, where there was a voter turnout of 60.12%.
Across Joza Street and beyond an expanse of litter-covered land, the Umzi Wasetiyopiya Catholic Church was also packed with people in coats, scarves and beanies. Of a possible voter total for that station of around 1 800, 1604 had voted by 4pm.
Voters wait their turn at the Ethiopian Church.
There, Xolo Dlamini was very clear about why he was there.
“It is up to me to choose who I want, so that’s why I’m here,” he told us. “I want to choose exactly the party that I want to govern our country.
“I want to see free education, I want to see our government free of corruption, I want to see more people getting opportunities to get into business.
“‘Cause I believe at the moment people are educated to be employees, not to be employers. So, I need our education system to change. Young people should be taught to become their own bosses: not to be employees, but rather to be employers.”
Xolo Dlamini speaks to Rhodes Journalism students Asikelelwe Pezisa and Zethu Hlubi.
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The country’s economic and political future, lies within the black ink,8 May 2019. Photo: Zintle Rwaxa
Despite facing difficulties with walking, 85 year old Makinana Nontontle could not miss voting in this year’s election, 8 May 2019. Ward 2 councillor Ramie Xonxa is looking on. Photo: Zintle Rwaxa
His vote, his voice. Lungile Klaas proudly shows his excitment for his voting. Photo: Kudzai Matsika 2019
This visually impared couple comes to the voting station to cast their votes. Photo: Kudzai Mtasika 2019
Siphosethu Manyathi smiles for the camera just before she begins checking the voter’s list. Photo: Kudzai Matsika
Law enfornment officers Sergeant Rwexu and Segeant Keet show face at the Noluthando voting station. Photo: Kudzai Mtasika 2019
An elderly voter receives assistance at Noluthando Hall. Photo: Zintle Rwaxa
ANC party member Sabatha Sakhi poses for the camera while checking the voter’s list. This is at Noluthando Hall, Ward 2, Makhanda 8 May 2019. Photo: Kudzai Matsika
84 years old Joza resident, Draai Colley Kholisile was elated with excitement as he casted his vote in this year’s election. He hopes that this time he made the correct decision, 8 May 2019. Photo: Zintle Rwaxa
The country’s economic and political future, lies within the black ink,8 May 2019. Photo: Zintle Rwaxa
G-ANC party agencies, campaigning in front of Noluthando voting Hall,8 May 2019. Photo: Zintle Rwaxa
It was a muddy road to voting at the Umzi Wasetiyopiya Catholic Church on 8 May 2019. Photo: Sue Maclennan
The Samuel Ntlebi voting station was very busy throughout the day. Photo: Sue Maclennan
Even the neighbourhood dogs looked for shelter at the Samuel Ntlebi voting station on 8 May 2019 in the cold, rainy weather. Photo: Sue Maclennan
Party representatives abandoned their tables opposite the Samuel Ntlebi voting station to seek shelter from the rain on 8 May 2019. Photo: Sue Maclennan
Sheltering from the cold rain at Samuel Ntlebi Primary voting station on 8 May. Photo: Sue Maclennan
Party agents in the Ethipian Church voting station in Extension 9 on 8 May 2019. Photo: Sue Maclennan
Voters wait their turn at the Ethiopian Church on 8 May 2019 in Extension 9. Photo: Sue Maclennan
Xolo Dlamini speaks to Rhodes Journalism students Asikelelwe Pezisa and Zethu Hlubi at the Ethipian Church in Extensioon 9 on 8 May 2019. Photo: Sue Maclennan
