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As political parties strategically used their young supporters to head their campaigns, City Press took a short left and chatted to members of the generation that marched in the Women’s March to the Union Buildings in 1956.
While many applied for special votes, Catherine Tsepe (96) from Seshego’s Ward 10 chose to stand in the queue on Wednesday.
“I was enthusiastic when voting for the first time in 1994 and I’m waiting for someone to come and fetch me to go and vote again,” she said.
Sizeni Mbambo (100) from Nkandla says she couldn’t believe it when she heard that everyone was allowed to vote in 1994, and she was really excited.
Since then, she has never missed an opportunity to vote. After this election, she is hoping government will provide RDP houses, electricity and free education for children.
Mbambo has seven children, and lives with her youngest son, his wife and their three children, who she supports with her state pension.
Nyanisa Mhlabeni (99) said: “I got my pension from [Nelson] Mandela.” She was born in the same month, on the same day and year as the late president. She struggles to remember much, but insists that she voted for Mandela on Wednesday.
All the elderly women agree that what they want to see changed is youth unemployment and the health system.
“I would like the government to make my body feel better,” said Mujaji Baloyi, who celebrated her 101st birthday in June, and is now bedridden.
Like many of the country’s elderly, Tsatsawani Vilankholo (85) cannot read or write.
“I told my son where to put the cross,” she said.
