Eastern Cape has received an influx of votes for the ANC. Picture: IEC.
Some of the Deaf and hearing people in the Eastern Cape who are still engulfed in poverty and share water with animals from a river voted for the African National Congress (ANC) for fear of losing their disability grants.
However, others voted for the United Democratic Movement (UDM) and uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) because they want a change.
At the time of publishing this article, the ANC was leading with 6.4 million votes, the Democratic Alliance (DA) 3.4 million votes and MK 2.3 million votes.
A Deaf community leader in Mthata Sindisa Damoyi said he voted for MK, stating that, “former President Jacob Zuma is a very good leader and increases economic life.” He said they will be able to obtain jobs by voting for MK.
A Deaf youth from Flagstaff, Modise Nqwala said he previously voted for the ANC, but due to the unchanged living conditions in his community he voted for the UDM.
Nqwala said the UDM leader, Bantu Holomisa has a clean record as a politician. But he was sad the ANC got the majority of votes.
“I am frustrated, I just wanted the ANC out, but they still won. But I thank MK for taking over in KZN,” he said.
Damoyi said ANC:
Although Nqwala said not know why the Deaf people are still voting for ANC in his community he said:
Nqwala expressed that:
He added, “The ANC has lied in the past 30 years. The ANC has not done anything for us in my village after 30 years of democracy. I voted for ANC in 2016 and 2019 because they promised that there will be a change. They are rich because of corruption. They have big houses and expensive cars, they eat nice food, they are happy. They are always safe and have bodyguards. But we have been suffering. We eat pap and cabbage, some of people live in shacks and are disrupted by rats. We buy R100 electricity and get R37 is that a better life. Food is increasing every month but while money isn't enough. We meet thugs and get robbed by them. We are not safe. ANC government doesn’t care. ANC does not think about people. They think about themselves and their families.”
He said, “Loadshedding has stopped because the elections are coming. The ANC thinks people are fools. South Africa need a new leader.”
