[ad_1]
About six million young South Africans are not registered to vote in the May 8 elections – a large part of the generation that grew up after the end of apartheid in 1994.
More than half of 18-30 year olds are missing from the electoral roll in a country that embraced democracy 25 years ago when Nelson Mandela came to power in the first multiracial elections.
Before the poll, two "free born" – those born after the end of apartheid – told AFP why they would not vote.
– Kgatlego More, the skeptic –
More, 22, is a business student living in a residential suburb of Johannesburg with his mother, a fervent supporter of the African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power since 1994.
"A year ago, I would have told you that I strongly supported the EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters, party of the radical left)," he said.
"They are the voice, the opinion of young people, because young people are enraged, young people are angry – the EFF is representative of all this.
"The other political parties are too politically correct … and the EFF does not really care, it's attractive.
"(But) I doubt their intentions because one side, they express our opinions, but at the same time, they drive luxury cars, they always attend these fanciful celebrations, I do not know where I am.
"Our parents believe that the ANC is the only political party that should be in the conversation.
"I feel I could do better (change) better if I did something in my community because it's where it starts.
"If you see a problem with your neighborhood, do it because your vote would not necessarily make up for that."
– Lorenco Jacobs, unemployed –
Aged 21, Jacobs lives in a hut in the market town of Eldorado Park in Johannesburg, where he eliminates a vacant lot to try to build a house illegally.
Unemployed, with a girl, Jacobs is part of the "Colored" community – an apartheid era ranking of South African Métis who still faces discrimination.
"I left school … I do not have a house, I will not vote, my vote will not change things," he said.
"I'm not considered, I'm ignored, nothing happens to us in our community.
"I am angry, I am dissatisfied with everything.
"The ANC is in power for blacks.Why do not they consider us equal? We have the right to be all equal."
"The DA (main opposition) is not doing anything, the DA will not make any changes, they are just broken promises, the EFF is fighting (physically) in Parliament, they are supposed to give the ;example.
"We hold our political leaders accountable, we live in a corrupt world, why should we vote for people who will do nothing for us?"
Source link
