Different views on meaning of polls

2011-05-18 20:11

Johannesburg - Different perspectives on the meaning of the local government elections were expressed by residents at the polling stations in Soweto on Wednesday.

"Why do I have to vote? Does it matter when these fools will go back to caring for themselves after this," said a man in his 30s, while pouring a beer at a restaurant positioned opposite the marital home of first democratic president Nelson Mandela.

His only benefit was that the day was a holiday, he said.

Meanwhile, Siya Mnguni, a young working class man from Diepkloof said: "I made my vote today. Looking at how Soweto has developed over the years, with the transport system for instance, I'm sure that more is in store."

An elderly woman making her way to a voting station in Orlando West said she hoped her vote would make a difference to service delivery.

She also hoped to help her recently graduated granddaughter find employment by voting. The government has been criticised for poor service delivery, corruption and a shortage of jobs.

"We can only live in hope, my child," she said.

- SAPA