Johannesburg's inner city residents have expressed their excitement that the ANC is currently leading in some of the wards in the area as the election results trickled in on Tuesday showing a picture of resilience from the governing party.
Several people that Sowetan spoke to people living in inner city suburbs of Berea and Doornfontein, which are part of ward 23.
In early evening on Tuesday, ANC I was the lead by 39.56% of votes. It was followed by the EFF (22.55%) and ActionSA (21.94%).
Hloniphani Gama, 43, of Berea, said he wanted the ANC to be in power so that it can bring about changes in their community.
“We are very happy that the ANC is leading. This is a revolutionary party with a good reputation. The ANC has its own problems but better the devil you know than the one you don’t know,” said Gama.
“Our area currently has uncollected rubbish on the streets. This disturbs me. I want the ANC to change this. I want to give them a chance.”
Another resident, Simphiwe Moyo, 58, said: “The ANC has never failed us.”
“I pray that the ANC should not lose. With the ANC in control and in charge I never run out of anything. I have water and electricity where I stay. I am happy,” said Moyo who sells sweets, biscuits and other snacks on the streets.
In Doorfontein, Allen Chamane, 29, said he would like to see the ANC winning the election in his ward because the ANC provides social grants for the elderly.
0 of 2
“I am happy the ANC is winning and I would like to see them win at the end of the day because they give people old age and child support grants. I know that if I have a child and I am unemployed, I will get a child grant from them,” said Chamane.
“I voted for the ANC. I can’t vote for a government [DA and EFF] that I don’t know. The ANC has its own faults but I trust that [Cyril] Ramaphosa will deliver on all the party’s promises in the next five years.”
Liam Thamae, 38, who is a street vendor in Selby in Ward 124, said it is important that the ANC continues to lead the voting results because it has given black people freedom. Early results as of 5pm on Tuesday showed the ANC was leading in the ward with 33.96%, followed by the DA with 22.43% and ActionSA 21.96%.
“Today as a black person I am welcomed everywhere I go because of the ANC. I can go to the same bank and restaurant a white person goes to. I can share the same toilet as a white person. This is because of the ANC,” said Thamae.
“The ANC will fix its mistake of not providing water and electricity for some communities because people are complaining about the ANC and complaints allow you to do a introspection. So the ANC will relook at itself,” he said.
Meanwhile, in ward 60, which covers areas such as Braamfontein and Newtown, residents said they wanted to see Herman Mashaba’s party emerge victorious. The results at 5pm however put the ANC in the lead with 39.33% of votes followed by ActionSA at 24.47% and the EFF with 21.63% of the votes counted.
Lizalise Lurwengu, 21, said when Mashaba was DA mayor of Joburg he addressed students’ funding issues.
“Mashaba understands the youth and listens to us. I am looking forward to seeing him run this city,” said Lurwengu.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.