Kutlo Motseta
30th October 2024
Like some other polling stations, the queues were long in the morning but there were few people in the afternoon, marking a good day at the office for many.
Most students were voting for the time and were expectedly excited about the opportunity to cast their first vote.
“I am excited cause it’s the first time voting I definitely feel responsibility off my shoulders,” said Pearl Marobe. She added that she hoped for, “Creation of jobs increments for school allowance … developments where I came from tarred roads development of infrastructure when its elections they do not during the term.”
Medical student, Aobakwe Hwanao spoke with much reflection, “I have been looking forward to it for a long time I have been hearing a lot of noise about politics so I listened … it might be my vote that makes a difference. It’s all about hope and hope is all I have; and I hope that the person in this area will make a difference … I don’t chose cause my dad votes for a particular party I vote based on what spikes my hopes, who do I think will get this country to a better level.”
Expressing the mood of some of the students he said, “I hadn’t voted [in the morning] and someone [student colleague] said I should beat myself on the chest and say I am an irresponsible person. But for that I may not have voted cause of the pressure at school … But I am glad I voted I would have regretted it.”
Assessing her voting role with sense of realism concerning the possibility of her party not winning arts student Modisaotsile Mokamani said, “I don’t think it’s something I should be excited about have to see what we get … I don’t want to think that much about it because I don’t want to be disappointed … I thought there were going to be long queues I have only been here for ten minutes and I am done … I am so going to vote at the next elections”, she added that “I was voting to make a change to be responsible so that I am not ignorant about matters that affect me”.
The voting building and surrounding areas on the university grounds were full of traffic in the morning, by early afternoon, there were few people in the lines about 15 from 3pm to 4:30pm, finishing of an important day in the country’s democracy.
