SOUTH AFRICA: Preparing to go to the polls on April 22, residents of Alexander township say they might finally see change

Record ID: 452444

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Preparing to go to the polls on April 22, residents of Alexander township say they might finally see change
  • Date: 21st April 2009
  • Summary: ALEXANDER TOWNSHIP, SOUTH AFRICA (APRIL 20, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
  • Embargoed: 6th May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADAORGQ0WFZ2ZPVUCYL0U4KJ26
  • Story Text: South Africans vote on Wednesday April 22 in the closest election since the end of apartheid with the ruling African National Congress' (ANC) huge majority likely to be cut by a revitalised opposition.
    Situated just a few kilometres from central Johannesburg, Alexander township is one of Gauteng's oldest and poorest township in the region, where lack of infrastructure, overcrowding and rampant crime make living conditions extremely difficult.
    But now with ANC leader Jacob Zuma poised to become South Africa's third democratically elected president, the residents say that they might finally see their hopes and dreams realised.
    And for this they say they will turn out in large numbers.

    "I want to vote, because I want to express my youthness, I want to express my freeness, I think it's important because way back you couldn't do all of that, but right now we have the choice for everything, to do anything I want, even if you choose not to vote, you see," said Alexander resident Sean Ashwington.
    Jacob Zuma is currently riding on the crest of a wave of goodwill, but will have his work cut out to assure his citizens that his government will bring about the improvements they have been waiting for since Nelson Mandela took power in 1994.
    More than 23 million voters are registered to cast their ballots on Wednesday in national and provincial elections in Africa's biggest economy.

    "Yes I am going to vote because we believe that our party, the one that I am going to vote for, the one that I know, is going to give our children, us, better jobs, and we believe that there are going to be changes in our country," said Priscilla Mkhwanazi, echoing the sentiments of most residents of the township.
    Ahead of the first post apartheid elections in 1994, Alexander was a virtual war zone as supporters of the Mandela led ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi fought deadly battles leaving hundreds dead.
    Now residents say things are set to get better.

    "Gradually, for sure we are getting there, life will be better," added Sheila Moerane.
    Many people living here, say they will not only be voting for their favourite party on Wednesday, but will also be voting for a better life.

    "My three points, first one is service delivery, second one, I expect job creation, and the third one, I expect our government to eliminate or reduce crime, our justice system should be stronger than before," said Alexander resident Ntabeni Nkutha Zwane.
    Analysts say the ANC's 70 percent majority may be reduced to between 60 and 65 percent -- removing the ability to change the constitution at will with a two-thirds parliamentary majority.
    The official opposition Democratic Alliance, resurgent under new leader Helen Zille, and the new Congress of the People (COPE) -- formed by dissident ANC leaders -- are likely to take votes from the ruling party.
    The DA is seen winning up to 15 percent of votes and although COPE's challenge has weakened since it was launched in December, the party is still expected to take up to 10 percent of the vote.
    COPE's candidate for president, Mvume Dandala, is a Methodist bishop was chosen after a disagreement over leadership between the new party's co-founders Mosiuoa Lekota and Mbhazima Shilowe.
    The ANC, which has ruled South Africa since 1994, will still dominate parliament and analysts do not expect a sudden shift to the left to reward trade unions and the South African Communist Party for their support of Zuma.
    A new Zuma government not only needs to assure investors. It has to address a myriad of problems at home.
    Millions of blacks still live in impoverished shantytowns, unemployment is around 30 percent and the country has one of the highest rates of violent crime in the world. About 1,000 people die every day from illnesses related to AIDS.
    Zuma said in an interview with Reuters last month that poverty is a major problem with statistics showing the number of poor had increased since 1994.
    South Africa is heading towards a first recession in 17 years as second round effects from the crisis take effect with unions fearing more job losses in the manufacturing and automobile industry.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Video restrictions: parts of this video may require additional clearances. Please see ‘Business Notes’ for more information.
Register