Sowetan - Elections 2009

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ELECTIONS 2009 - Mandela casts his vote Former President Nelson Mandela cast his vote at the Killarney Country Club in Johannesburg, near his Houghton mansion. WATCH IT HERE: Madiba brings voting to a halt as crowds scramble for a glimpse of the icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela says the ANC’s vibrancy is back

In the News Soweto’s Puleng Ramochela is told she’s dead After standing in a voting queue for just under two hours, Puleng Esther Ramochela was denied the opportunity to vote - because she is deceased, according to the voters roll. ON VIDEO: Denied the right to vote by her ID woes "I am not a ghost!" - ‘Dead man’ is allowed to vote Voting for the first time Young voters came out to support their favourite political parties on Election Day, despite admissions that they are slightly confused. ON VIDEO: First-time voters share their excitement and confusion about voting Zuma’s daughters have voted Duduzile joked: "She couldn’t find the ANC box, I was laughing and saying ’you know what your father looks like’," she laughed. Tutu makes his mark Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who at one stage threatened not to vote in the 2009 general election, cast his ballot at a polling station in Cape Town on Wednesday morning. VIDEO CLIP: Click here to watch & listen to Archbishop Tutu (filmed by Anna Majavu) I’m not looking forward to Zuma presidency: Tutu Alex protest: We will not vote for anyone Protesters in Alexandra refused to vote on Election Day, saying none of the political parties have come to see them during their time of need. ON CAMERA: Activists from the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign gather at Gugulethu voting station, claiming a ‘no land, no house, no vote ’campaign ‘A few problem areas’ - Marked ballots and a robbery mar elections While the elections got off to a smooth start, there were irregularities reported in a number of provinces on Wednesday, IEC chairwoman Brigalia Bam said.

Opinions

Election coverage (in VIDEOS and PICTURES)
What our cameras captured on Election Day 2009...

Voters making their mark on election day (PICTURES)
Big shots like President Motlanthe, Trevor Manuel and former president Thabo Mbeki have made their voices heard by casting their votes this morning. Others also have joined the queue. Click here to view pictures. More pics to follow throughout the day

Election Day Quotes

Notable quotes from politicians and voters on South Africa’s election day:

Juicy Quotes - Click here to see who said what ahead of the elections

ELECTION SPECIAL (FULL REPORT INSIDE)
IT’S TIME. For all your TOMORROWS , make your vote TODAY.

Difficult job well done - Motlanthe matched task
On September 25 last year, Chief Justice Pius Langa swore in ANC vice-president Kgalema Motlanthe as the third post-apartheid president of South Africa.

Msholozi says he’ll be held to account
ANC president Jacob Zuma says the incoming administration will not take voters for granted. “We know that voters’ mandate comes with great responsibility, and that we will be held to account for what we do,” he said.

Zuma’s last words before April 22 vote (VIDEO)

President Zuma must hit ground running
While millions of South Africans go to the polls today to vote for the party of their choice, the ANC government is already making preparations for the inauguration of the new president.

Thoughts and quotable quotes by politicians on the election
They said it

Rainbow or mirage? - some still believe in it, others don’t
As millions go out to vote today, Sowetan asked some of them if they believe that the rainbow dream of former president Nelson Mandela and Nobel Peace laureate Desmond Tutu was still alive.

"We as the ANC-led liberation alliance have nothing to fear and everything to gain from a climate of political tolerance. We do not fear open contest and free debate with other organisations. Open debate can only serve to uncover the bankruptcy of our political opponents." - Chris Hani

"People who have wild ideas about how to run the earth ought to start with a small garden." - Ahmed kathrada

"In time, we shall be in a position to bestow on South Africa the greatest possible gift - a more human face." - Steve Biko

"We will continue to count on your unwavering support and commitment to working with leaders of our continent in bringing about the desired renaissance of Africa." - Thabo Mbeki

"I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of human rights." - Desmond Tutu

"For all my criticisms of the current system, it doesn't mean that I would like to return to the old one." - Helen Suzman

"Therefore, our fight must primarily be a political mass struggle with revolutionary goals." - Joe Slovo

"The spirit of democracy cannot be imposed from without. It has to come from within." - Mahatma Ghandi

"But then you have to ask who is empowered by whom? People, including women, have to empower themselves." - Mamphele Ramphele

"If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner." - Nelson Mandela

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In the Run-Up

Motorist finds ballot papers lying in the road
A shocked motorist has found a full pack of ballot papers that are supposed to be used during tomorrow’s voting scattered along a busy road in Mpumalanga.

‘Path of riches wasn’t for Biko’
Azapo today is a danger to black South Africans and stands for everything that Steve Biko rejected, according to Andile Mngxitama in his new book, Why Biko would not vote.

Zuma tries to explain his Jesus comment

ANC president Jacob Zuma has sought to explain his remark that the ANC will rule until Jesus returns, saying this was a “political expression”.

Zuma: Afrikaners are only true white South African tribe

ON VIDEO: JZ says he understands why post-apartheid-era Afrikaners are searching for a leader

SA artists lend support to ANC
As the elections draw closer, the ANC’s election campaign was given further momentum by a number of the country’s performing artists at yesterday evening’s Cultural Sector Manifesto Endorsement Dinner held at the Gallagher Estates in Johannesburg.

VIDEO: SA’s veteran artists got Jacob Zuma boogying - CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT WENT DOWN ... AND UP.

‘Only better life we see is on TV’

Campaign posters line the streets across South Africa for the general elections just a month away, but voters say enduring poverty and poor public services have left them disenchanted with politics.

How to tame Malema according to the Bible

The Freedom Front Plus Youth today delivered a copy of the book "Boundaries with Teens" to ANC president Jacob Zuma’s office as a birthday present for the ANC Youth League.

PAC snubs its former president Pheko
Former PAC president Motsoko Pheko has been rejected by his own party but he says he will not turn his back on it.

DA’s youth leader wants to talk youth issues
"The invitation for a political debate with Julius Malema is still open," says Democratic Alliance youth leader Khume Ramulifho.

ON CAMERA: Watch as DA Youth leader Khume Ramulifho responds to the ANC’s Julius Malema

Cursing not way to go
The worrying signs of a violent run-up to next month’s general elections must be a serious concern to all.

SA Elections 2009 - Insults are mounting

South African politicians are tossing around insults in the run-up to voting day on April 22 — dragging Michael Jackson, witches and garden gnomes into the fray.

PHOTOS: Insults just keep coming...

"We say No to corruption" - ACDP manifesto launch
Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, the President of the African Christian Democratic Party, pulled no punches at the party’s election manifesto which hosted about 4500 people, held in Soweto on the weekend.

ON CAMERA: Reverend Meshoe pulling no punches on corruption

ON CAMERA: ACDP Youth Forum president on why the party says No to abortion.

Buthelezi says its time for change
Long-standing Inkatha Freedom Party leader, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi called for a corrupt-free government in his election manifesto launch speech on Sunday.

ON CAMERA: IFP Manifesto Launch in Pimville Soweto - here’s how it went down!

PHOTOS: View pictures from the Manifesto launch

Call to remove ANC - put trust in IFP, says Buthelezi

IFP makes inroads into Limpopo

We’re free to love or hate as we please
There is a new crime that is fast finding form. It is called hating Jacob Zuma. Last Friday, political analyst Dumisani Hlophe wrote an interesting piece asking cartoonist Zapiro to stop drawing Zuma with a shower head.

Zwai Bala joins the new Cope party

Former TKzee member Zwai Bala has joined the newly launched Congress of the People (Cope).
This is despite anxieties among many musicians that such a move could be career-limiting.

‘Mpumalanga has turned into a battlefield where politicians are killed Mafia-style’

Anele Mda is gagged by Cope

Lekota blasts ANC for ‘corruption’
Frank Maponya Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota said the ANC has betrayed everything the generation of past leaders stood for.

De Lille lambastes DA
ID leader Patricia de Lille has accused the Democratic Alliance of handing out food parcels to win votes.

ID supporters get down with party leader Patricia De Lille in Delft, Cape Town

Jiyane promises change
South African Democratic Convention president Ziba Jiyane spent four hours yesterday trying to convince residents of Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, to vote him into Parliament to bring a fresh breeze in the country’s politics.

Albertina Sisulu casts her vote

Struggle stalwart Albertina Sisulu, 90, cast her vote at Höerskool Linden, north-west of Johannesburg, yesterday.

VIDEO: Ma Sisulu casts her vote

Elections 2009 - Overseas voters cast their ballots

Overseas South Africans voted on Wednesday, a week ahead of elections likely to usher in five more years of rule by the ANC. In London, people waited up to two hours to cast their vote.

‘Sheer excitement’ by embassy officials in London

UK Visa to cost South Africans R500 million

Click here for more

‘You failed Madiba and the nation’
Mbalula accuses Mbeki of running ANC and the country with a cabal to commandeer his vision.

Mbeki’s sins, according to fikile

Selebi dares the NPA to put him on trial

PDF: Click here to read Mbalula’s open letter to Thabo Mbeki

I’m not looking forward to Zuma presidency: Tutu
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is not looking forward to a Jacob Zuma presidency, he said in Durban on Wednesday evening.

’You may have power but you are not God’ - Tutu lashes out at ANC leaders in TV interview

Advent of Cope signals break from race divide

A survey has found that the formation of the Cope signalled a move away from race-based voting in Gauteng , MarkData said this week.

Winnie’s in - even though FF Plus insists she is not eligible to stand in polls
The ANC has pledged to respond to the complaint by the Freedom Front Plus about Winnie Madikizela-Mandela being one of its candidates for the National Assembly.

The police favour ANC, says Cope

IFP ‘shames graft’ officials

Zuma to speak at memorial

‘Not ANC’s business if Mbeki talks to Cope’

PAC snubs its former president Pheko

Nominees for youth agency

Promises result in ‘free food’ stampedes

Two stampedes have been reported in KwaZulu-Natal as a result of the poor being promised vouchers for free food.

Movement Democratic Party’s Jake Maseka gets in a ‘ dig’ at parties’ pre-election promises

Mandla Mandela’s marriage is on the rocks - Thando flees
Former President Nelson Mandela’s grandson and the chief of Mvezo traditional council Mandla Mandela’s marriage is on the rocks following allegations of abuse levelled against him.

Elections 2009 - ‘Community to decide Mandla Mandela’s ANC call-up’

Oprah’s advice to Rihanna and Chris Brown - ‘If he beats you once, he’ll do it again’, and ‘Love shouldn’t hurt’

‘My vote is important just like any other’
Jace Nair, chief executive of the KwaZulu-Natal Blind and Deaf Society, relies on his wife to help him cast his vote.

Make your vote count urges Holomisa
United Democratic Movement president, General Bantu Holomisa urged South Africans to use their votes with consideration in this year’s historic elections.

ON CAMERA: Holomisa speaks on corrupt ANC - Hear what he had to say!

Ditch ANC, says Holomisa

The rot has set in, we will defend the Constitution
Cope’s Deputy President Mbhazima Shilowa discusses the state of the nation with Fikile-Ntsikelelo Moya

A joke for a vote - Watch Tshepo Mogale on WEB TV

Tshepo Mogale wants a tender, any tender. Or to be a spokesman for any political party - so that he can have an expensive 4x4 (Sport model), a nice girlfriend, big tummy, VIP protection and champagne...

ELECTION COMEDY, with Kedibone Mulaudzi (WEB TV)

Sowetan Online had a chat with one of the country’s top comedians, Kedibone Mulaudzi. Politics and politicians were at the centre of the conversation...

The flip-side of party leaders
You’ve seen their serious side, you know what their party represent, but now we give you a chance to get up close with the Political party leaders. Find out what they’re all about......

Businessmen buy helicopter for ANC

A group of Gauteng businessmen and professionals have rallied together to formalise their support for the ruling party in launching the Friends of the ANC structure.

‘Vote IFP for change’
IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi yesterday urged voters to give change a chance to flourish by voting for his party on Wednesday.

JZ rated Mzansi’s sexiest politician
Jacob Zuma is South Africa’s sexiest politician, and unlucky-in-looks Julius Malema might struggle for a date, said a survey released yesterday.

‘You’re so vain!’ - SA men suffer from Adonis Complex

Sowetan brings sexy to Mzansi! - click here to check out our sexiest celebs

Zuma snatches MaNtuli

97-year-old votes in Orlando West
A 97-year-old woman was on Wednesday wheeled into the Orlando West High School to cast her vote.

‘Oldest’ person votes for Mandela

Senior citizens vote from home

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