Potential voters reflect on the ANC government's wins and failures

JOHANNESBURG - The triple threat of poverty, inequality and unemployment in South Africa is top of mind for some young potential voters, as the country marked Freedom Day.

Some of the disenchanted youth in Soweto believe that there is little to show for 30 years of democracy.

They told Eyewitness News that while commemorating 30 years of South Africa’s liberation is important, they have a different perspective from the older generations.

One Soweto resident who is set to mark his first ballot paper on the 29th of May said that it is hard for him to commemorate democracy amid what he describes as a collapsing state.

"It's very disappointing the way we are after 30 years of democracy. After 30 years of ANC, there’s still a lot of corruption, the service delivery is not right, our school standards are not great as during apartheid but saying that I’m glad apartheid is over."

But 18-year-old Buisang Lekeke said while he has concerns of his own, promises that were made at the dawn of democracy have been fulfilled.

"We are the Tintswalo’s of this generation. We are the beneficiaries of democracy. We are getting free education, free meals in schools and we are getting every basic life need for free. 30 years of democracy means that we should be able to access service delivery such as free education and free water to communities that cant afford it."

The 18-year-old says 30 years of democracy isn’t about the victories or losses of the ANC since 1994 but its about honouring what it took to bring about liberation.