News24 | 'This moment is our 1994': Bloemfontein residents show up in numbers to cast their votes

From the break of dawn on Wednesday, Bloemfontein residents showed up in their numbers to cast their votes. (Iavan Pijoos/News24)

• Bloemfontein residents expressed their hopes and concerns during voting on Wednesday.
• The Free State faced slow-moving queues, technical difficulties, and voters receiving incorrect ballot papers.
• The provincial health department confirmed there were a few medical emergencies at voting stations.

From the break of dawn on Wednesday, the streets of Bloemfontein were bustling with citizens ready to vote.

Eager and determined, they converged on numerous voting stations throughout the town.

Molla van Rensburg, casting her vote at the local crèche in Bloemside, Bloemfontein, told News24 that "this moment is our 1994".

"I cast my vote with the future of my generation in mind, seizing the opportunity to rectify the errors of my parents. Back in 1994, your vote was a closely-guarded secret. Now, in 2024, my vote is an open declaration.

"The time for change has arrived," said a jubilant Van Rensburg, adorned in the green colours of the Patriotic Alliance.

Heidedal resident Craig Jordaan expressed his unwavering support for the DA.

Despite the progress made since 1994, Jordaan said opportunities for advancement in workplaces for coloured people had been limited.

"But, you know, somewhere along the line, we lost track," he said.

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This was a significant factor in his decision to support the DA, a party he believed had been actively working towards addressing such issues.

Jordaan touched on the topic of the National Health Insurance, expressing scepticism about its implementation.

"I understand we all need to get free and equal opportunity, but our government is supposed to do more when it comes to the clinics or hospitals," Jordaan said.

Carien de Jager, who cast her vote at the library in Langenhoven Park, said she believed the country was on its way to making positive strides.

"I feel great. I think things will be better, load shedding especially. I think South Africa is on the right track," she said.

Despite a few mishaps at some voting stations, the provincial manager of the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC), Itumeleng Liba, said all stations had been operational on time.

Liba said the Free State, particularly Bloemfontein, had faced two challenges.

"The first one was that the queues were a bit slow in the morning and, coupled with that, our machines were losing signal.

"The second biggest problem was that people came to vote at stations where they were not registered," he said.

During News24's visit to the Bloemfontein South High School voting station, it was discovered that voters had received only two ballot papers.

The incident sparked widespread frustration.

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Liba said he was only made aware of the issue during a meeting with political parties on Wednesday afternoon, but promised urgent intervention.

The Free State health department confirmed that three people faced medical emergencies at different voting stations.

A 20-year-old man collapsed at St Michael's School and was transported to the National District Hospital.

Another case involved a 33-year-old man, who slipped at a school in Botshabelo, and sustained a deep cut on the back of his head.

Health department spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said the man was treated on-site and then taken to Botshabelo District Hospital.

Additionally, a possible epileptic patient at Mahlohonolo Primary School, in Botshabelo, was attended to by the EMS crew and taken to the Mediclinic Bloemfontein Hospital.

Mvambi added that the IEC had not made provisions for patients admitted to hospitals to vote. 

Free State's police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Baile Motswenyane, confirmed the voting process unfolded without significant disruption.

Motswenyane said all voting stations opened on time and operations proceeded as planned.