Mndavazi Mathebula says she is now more concerned about the future of the next generations and her vote is for them.
At the age of 95, a nonagenarian Gogo Mndavazi Mathebula from Joppie Village in Nwamitwa is one of the oldest citizens to participate in the national and provincial elections on the 08th May 2019.
Unlike in 1994 when she made the long queue during the first democratic elections, Gogo Mndavazi Mathebula was amongst those on Monday when the Independent Electoral Commission staff visited her home for special voting.
Gogo Mndavazi Mathebula says she is now more concerned about the future of the next generations, and her vote is for them.
“When we voted for the first time in 1994, all we wanted was to see change from the apartheid regime. The apartheid regime did not value a life of a black person. We were all excited about voting for the first time, but we were also anxious because we did not know what to expect after the elections. Now, looking at all that has happened in the past years, I still feel people must vote with the future in mind, not out of excitement or frustrations,” she said.
Gogo Mndavazi Mathebula said that in 1994, she thought there would be bloodshed after elections, but it turned out better than they expected.
“I think a lot has happened over the years. A lot of things that were only ever done in the suburbs are now available in rural areas. We immediately had electricity in our village post 1994, which is something I never thought would happen in my lifetime,” said Gogo Mndavazi Mathebula.
Gogo Mndavazi Mathebula says at her age she is not expecting a lot from government.
“I have running water where I stay, and electricity and receive my grant. Government has built a house for my first-born child. My grandchildren now have access to free education, something that we did not have during our time. But, my vote now is for the future, and I think the next generation must appreciate where we come from as a country. Mandela and his people did a lot for us, especially for those of us who are from the rural areas,” she said.
Gogo Mndavazi Mathebula further said that they were not always exposed to the opportunities that today’s generations are exposed to, and she does not think the majority of them appreciate that.
“With access to education, maybe I could have been a teacher or a nurse, but the opportunities were not always there. We had to work abnormal hours on the farms so as to supplement our parents’ wages,” said Gogo Mndavazi Mathebula.
Sourced from Letaba Herald
