Several voters braced for the cold in Bloemfontein on Wednesday morning (29/5) to go to voting stations and cast their votes in the 2024 elections.  

The South African Weather Service predicted a minimum of 8 °C and a maximum of 22 °C closer to the afternoon.  Voting stations opened at 07:00 and a handful of people were at the Brebner Primary School just before the station opened to vote for a better South Africa.  
“These are the most important elections since 1994 and it is all about the future of South Africa. If you don’t vote today you are not serious about the future of the country,” said a voter. “I am voting for a better future for South Africa today.”

Free State Premier, @dukwana_mxolisi makes his mark at Riebeeckstad Library in Welkom. It is of cardinal importance that every registered South African voter cast their vote in this election. Their future depends on it. #30YearsOfDemocracy #LeaveNoOneBehind pic.twitter.com/QqH9KVxO9J

— FS Government (@fsgov) May 27, 2024

Pieter de Jager echoed it’s one of the most important elections since 1994. “I am voting for a better future for our land and I hope we can get it right if we vote correctly. We are hoping for the best, for peace, freedom, and a better future for our country.”

Voters voting in the province where they are registered will receive three ballot papers, the national, regional, and provincial ballot papers. If they vote outside their registered province, they will only be eligible to vote in the national ballot paper.

In the Free State 1.45 million voters registered to vote. “We are anticipating they will all come and we made provisions for those that are coming from outside the province if they notified us that they will vote in the Free State”, said Free State IEC Communications Officer, Mmathabo Rasengane.

“I am voting for the first time today, and I feel like it is my responsibility to vote and I want to see a difference in the South African community. I think we can all work together,” said first-time voter Chandré Geyser.

“I’m a first-time voter and I feel like it is my responsibility to make a difference in the country and I hope to see a difference in loadshedding and the petrol price,” said another first-time voter at Wynand Mouton Drive.

IEC signage is all over the city to show the different voting stations and people are urged to go out in their numbers to cast their votes.  

OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg