DURBAN - WITH applications for special votes now closed, some senior citizens who registered were eager for the chance to cast their ballot.
Local government elections will take place on November 1 and those with a physical disability or infirmity who are not able to travel to their voting stations were able to apply to vote at a predetermined day prior to the election date. According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), 325 political parties will contest this year’s elections. The biggest age cohort on the voters’ roll is the 30-39 years, which at 6.7 million represents 25%.
The resident manager at the Aryan Benevolent Home (ABH) Clayton Gardens Home for the Aged, Ashok Rambharosa, said 21 residents in the complex were ready to vote.
Manny Yagambaram, 80, said he would vote for good governance and hoped the political party in charge would show more care and consideration for senior citizens.
He said money from state coffers should have been directed towards senior citizens grants, but instead some of it had been stolen.
Saras Beharie, aged 81, highlighted high levels of unemployment in the country, saying her children and grandchildren were finding it difficult to find jobs. Beharie added that she would like to see the cost of living reduced.
“I keep abreast of the news on television. The country is in a dire situation,” she said.
Indrani Maistry, 84, said she was concerned about crime and violence in the run-up to the elections. She hoped there would not be further unrest in the country after rioting in July.
The Association for The Aged (Tafta) said many of its elderly members, who were encouraged to lead independent and empowered lives, had taken it upon themselves to register to vote once registration opened.
“While the opportunity to register for special voting is open to our frail elders, the very real threat of Covid19 is still among us. We are thankful that the local ward councillors reached out to elders,” Tafta chief executive Femada Shamam said.
With this year’s theme for the UN International Day of Older Persons being “Digital Equity for All Ages”, Shamam said Tafta was excited that the elderly were actively participating in the digital world by registering online.
“A group of ladies and myself registered online using the voter portal. We were pleased to see that there will be a voting station quite close to our home. We look forward to casting our votes. I have also encouraged my two granddaughters to register for the first time as I believe every vote counts,” said one elderly resident at Tafta’s Ocean View home who wished to remain anonymous.
IEC’s Kate Bapela said the final roll count relating to the special vote would be released on Tuesday.
Daily News