As clock ticks down to polls, sense of anxiety lingers amongst electorate over what future holds for SA

JOHANNESBURG - Monday marks 29 days before the country holds its seventh democratic elections and much like 1994, the electorate is anxious about the future.
 
Back then, the uncertainty was over a black government taking over the reins; today, citizens don’t know what sort of government will emerge from the upcoming elections.
 
Several polls have suggested no party will get an outright majority, pushing parties to enter into coalitions in order to govern.
 
"We attach importance to dialogue, to solving problems, through negotiations, it’s an art which requires a great deal of vision, strength of character on the party of leaders and a vision."
 
These were the words of Nelson Mandela during an interview on Talk Radio 702 before the first democratic elections.

At the time, he navigated uncertainty from minority groups and violent clashes between the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the African National Congress (ANC).
 
While Madiba’s ANC has made progress over the years, it seems to have now hit a wall.
 
Rivonia Circle’s Tessa Dooms said the country was in a precarious situation.
 
"What is also still lingering 30 days before the election is a clear sense and clear picture of what the temperature and mood of the electorate is towards the elections."
 
South Africans will make their mark, ushering in a new administration on 29 May.

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