Athlone, Hanover Park residents hope their votes rid communities of gang violence
Residents in the areas hit the polls on Wednesday for the country’s elections, echoing similar sentiments over the importance of casting their vote to create change in their communities.
Athlone residents cast their vote at the Rylands Primary School hall on 29 May 2024. Picture: Skhu Nkomphela/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - Athlone residents made their way to voting stations in the community on Wednesday in their numbers despite the threat of ongoing gang violence in the area.
First-time voter Farzeen Latief said she voted because a change is needed in the country.
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“This is my first experience, and the experience went very smoothly. I stood in the line for a couple of minutes and then it was my chance to vote, and I feel like it’s very important for everyone to vote so that their voices can be heard.”
Senior citizen Shamsheer Singh said there's been one shooting a day in the area for the past month.
He hopes his vote will count towards creating more policing in the area.
“Things have escalated. By coming here and hopefully making a cross, we can help because we find that policing is not effective. We don’t find visible policing in this area.”
Meanwhile, two first-time voters in crime-ridden Hanover Park cast their votes on Wednesday, hopeful they will make a change in their community.
More than 1,600 voters braved the ongoing gang violence in the area to make their mark in the national elections at the local civic centre.
Masura Jones said despite the long queue, she was happy her vote went smoothly.
“It’s very important to vote because that’s your voice and if you don’t vote then there’s not going to be change in your area.”
Nasneem Bennett echoed Jones’s sentiments: “To vote to make a change. Maybe it will reduce all the crime. Maybe they’ll make activities, whoever the party's going to be, like to keep us occupied and off the roads, for example netball.
“I just hope somebody is going to take over here who is going to implement that so that everybody can be occupied rather than doing the wrong thing and to make it safer.”