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Nelson Mandela Bay residents brave cold to cast votes

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Residents of the Nelson Mandela Bay were not deterred to cast their votes, despite the inclement weather conditions. Most voting stations opened on time and residents were eager to vote.

Thousands headed to polling stations; young and old equally enthusiastic to cast their vote.

Young voters were excited to vote for the first time. “It was my first time and I am so happy just to be a part of history and make change,” says a first voter.

Others were happy just to get the day off and mark their ‘X.’ “I am voting for a rainbow nation, for the future of our children.”

Phapama Dubedube says she’s hoping the party that will be voted into power will address the problems that the youth are facing such as unemployment.”

“The rates of unemployment will eventually decrease and also the housing. The houses will increase and we will have less homeless people.”

Voting is still under way in the Nelson Mandela Bay where it is still raining. IEC tents collapsed at Soweto on-sea in Port Elizabeth due to the weather. However, IEC officials put the tents up again.

Constitutional right to vote

Employers were also implored to allow employees to vote. Cosatu president, Zingiswa Losi, says the constitutional right to vote supersedes any contractual obligation.

“It’s their constitutional right; it’s a fundamental right that supersedes any contractual obligation that they had. We are pleading with employers to release the workers to cast their votes. We won’t be making our rounds on whether workers who are at work today. They must cast their votes to the nearest polling station.”

SRWP leader, Irvin Jim, condemned employers who refused to release employees to go cast their votes.

“I want to openly condemn those employers in this country that are so cruel that they can’t even release workers for one day to go and vote and to basically keep workers working when they need to vote. Government should give penalties to those who don’t respect this very important day.”

Voting stations will only close at 21:00.

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