NFP supporter votes with heavy heart

It was with a heavy heart that NFP supporter Nomvula Ntshingila donned her party's regalia and headed to the polls in Soweto this morning.

Soweto - For months Nomvula Ntshingila campaigned tirelessly for her party, the National Freedom Party (NFP).

She went to people's houses telling them about the NFP and also recruited new members with the hope that come August 3, her party would be bigger and stronger in Soweto.

However, when it was announced last week Friday that the NFP would not be taking part in the elections as it had failed to register on time, Ntshingila broke down and cried.

She could not believe that all the hard work that she had put in preparing for the elections had been for naught.

On Wednesday it was with a heavy heart that Ntshingila donned her party's regalia and headed to the polls.

She said what happened regarding her party had left her humiliated and turned her into a laughing stock.

"Other comrades that I used to campaign with were laughing at me. Even wearing these clothes... I'm doing this with a heavy heart. I had thought that we had hope because we had a good lawyer but that was not to be.

"I don't even eat these days," she said.

The party has taken a decision that its members give their votes go to other parties, but members like Ntshingila are not happy about it despite the fact that they will heed the leadership's call to vote for the ANC.

"I am not happy but there's nothing I can do," the 37-year-old woman said.

According to NFP chairperson in Ward 13, Soweto, they were disappointed that their party would not be taking part in this year's elections.

Dlangeswa Mvelase said they were prepared for poll and put in all the necessary work.

Mvelase said after they were informed that the NFP would not be taking part in the elections, the leadership sat down with all the structures and asked if the members would be voting or not.

That was when it was decided that the votes should be split and in Johannesburg they would support the ANC.

"Our leadership in Johannesburg met with Mayor Parks Tau and it was decided that let's give them this X. But it must be stressed that we are not joining ANC," he said.

Mvelase said if the ANC won, they would work together in delivering services.

So happy was an ANC party agent with the NFP's support, he approached Mvelase and shook his hand, thanking him.

botho.molosankwe@inl.co.za

Elections Bureau