Linden voters cold in the #ElectionDay queue

Despite a slow start to the morning, cold voters in Linden were upbeat as the queue to cast their ballot grew longer.

Johannesburg - Despite a slow start to the morning, cold voters in Linden were upbeat as the queue to cast their ballot grew longer.

Ballot papers were delivered 30 minutes late to the Linden High School voting station. While voters waited patiently, Thulani Moyo sold them coffee for R20 a cup from his specialised backpack.

Mariska Klopper said she had struggled to decide who to vote for. "It was quite difficult to decide on which party to pick because of everything that's been happening in the news the past few weeks."

Her partner, Nico Kruger said he thought the voting had gone smoothly. "It went pretty fast. They split people up in the front."

Nigel Langley, 83, who was on crutches, was moved to the front of the queue. His crutches could be heard tic-tacking along the wooden school hall floor as he made his mark and submitted his ballot paper.

He joked afterwards: "I'm a little long in the tooth, but still OK. I'm quite capable, I drove myself.. I was in and out in three minutes. These things (crutches) have an advantage sometimes."

He said he had decided long ago already who to vote for.

Leaving the venue with her brother, a rushed Benita Pillay said she needed to drive the 300km back to Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal to cast her vote.

"I recently changed my voting station when I moved there to work. I didn't expect to be here again. I was supposed to leave on Sunday. I've been preaching to everyone to vote, so I have to go back."

Two police officers walked around the venue to ensure that everything was running smoothly.

Election Bureau

Gabi.falanga@inl.co.za

@Gabi_Falanga