Having waited for years to cast their votes, young and elderly persons in Vhembe district, Limpopo, braced the morning cold and queued at their local IEC voting stations to vote for their favoured political parties. The voters Elitsha spoke to voiced their concerns on several service delivery issues, including a lack of water provision, the poor condition of roads, and the shortage of jobs.
Matodzi Mudau is a 26-year-old woman who resides in Lufule village, outside of Thohoyandou in Limpopo. Mudau graduated from a Vhembe further education and training college two years ago with a financial management diploma but has not been able to find employment since. She voted for the first time, hoping for a change in fortunes. “I am hoping that my vote will bring a much-needed change to my life. I hope that new jobs will be created as we are struggling due to unemployment. It is so painful not working, despite having qualifications,” said Mudau.
She said that she is confident that this year elections will bring positive change to the lives of youth like herself who are struggling to find employment. “If we want to see a change as young people who are suffering due to being unemployed, we must stand up and vote as no one will do it for us. It is our responsibility to bring a change we want to see in our lives. I am confident that if we vote in huge numbers, we will be able to influence the change we want to see,” said Mudau.
Agness Mulaudzi is 28 years old, a mother of three sons, who resides in Mphego village, outside of Thohoyandou. She is currently unemployed and relies on the child support grant money she receives on behalf of her children. She also voted for the first time in her life today in Vhembe. “Look, life is very hard on my side now as I am not working. It is very hard to find any job these days without any form of qualification, but I am hopeful that after these elections more jobs will be created in the country, which will also cater for people like me who only possess a grade 12 certificate,” said Mulaudzi.
Mulaudzi said that she is also concerned about the condition of gravel roads in Mphego. “I am also hopeful that the government I have just voted for will also help us by maintaining the gravel roads within our village as now the condition of the roads is very poor as nothing is ever done to maintain them. Even emergency service vehicles sometimes take too long to reach our villages because of the poor condition of the roads,” she said
The majority of the voters in Limpopo are women between the ages of 30-39.
Johana Modjadji is 66 years old and resides in Tshififi village, outside of Thohoyandou. She said that she is worried about the lack of water supply to her village. “We do not have any source of running water supply within our village and due to that we are struggling. Though I feel like the government has failed us in this regard, it is only through voting where we can make a change for the better. We cannot go on like this, change is needed urgently,” said Modjadji. She remains hopeful that running water will be provided in her village after the elections.
