As this year marks 30 years since the first free elections in South Africa, I thought I would take the opportunity to interview my mum. Although being married to a proud man of Kent, she grew up under the Apartheid regime and was a firsthand witness of the febrile atmosphere on the first day of free elections.
As voting took place over 4 days to ensure everyone across the country got the opportunity to vote, she volunteered as a Party Voting Agent for one of the political parties. “My role was to observe the operations at the polling station to ensure that the voting process was conducted in an open, fair and transparent manner.” This involved making sure that voters waiting to enter the polling station were not intimidated or persuaded to vote for a particular political party, ensuring ballot boxes were sealed to prevent any tampering and observing that voters were properly identified on the voters' roll. “After voting was completed and the polling station I was assigned to was closed, I was also fortunate enough to witness the counting of the ballot papers. Here I was able to observe how the ballot boxes were opened, ballot papers extracted, and how the volunteers counting the votes checked and excluded any spoiled ballots from the voting process.”
When asked what the atmosphere was like on the first day at the polling station she said she observed; “a mixture of fear, excitement and nervousness.” This was because it was the first time in the country's history that non-white South Africans would be allowed to vote, and there was still quite a wide political divide in the country, so naturally there was a lot of fear that violence could erupt during the elections. She also mentioned; “at the same time there was also the excitement of being able to vote and have a say in the country's future which encouraged many to face their fears and come to the polling stations to vote.” Voting was a momentous occasion for many as under the Apartheid regime non-white South Africans, who made up the majority of the population, had been exposed to decades of oppression, violence and intimidation.
She also told me that there were two things that stood out for her the most on voting day. “Firstly, I was not expecting such an incredible turnout of voters! People had been queueing for up to 4 hours before the polling station had even opened, waiting patiently with many in very high spirits. Secondly, witnessing the emotions on voters' faces when they cast their first ever vote is something that I'll never forget! Many left the polling stations in tears at having finally being able to play a part in the country's new history, which were soon replaced by laughter and joy when they were met by the loud cheers of those voters still waiting in the queues.”
Finally, I asked how she felt voting for the first time. “Having witnessed the violence and protests in the last few years leading to the eventual end of the Apartheid regime, voting for the first time was a very emotional and liberating feeling. It felt incredible to be a small part of history in the making. For me the icing on the cake was being fortunate enough to meet South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, in person a few years later!”
Whilst there are valid criticisms of our system of government, it is perhaps too easy today to be over cynical and forget just how important the freedoms are we enjoy.