While the national elections are days within reach, South African expats living abroad have already taken the first step to creating a better tomorrow, by heading to polls so they could place their votes.
Those given an opportunity included citizens from as far as Egypt, Algeria, Syria, Iran, as well as the United Kingdom.
According to East Coast Radio, London has more than twenty thousand South Africans living in their country, while the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) expected a total of 76,000 people living abroad to cast their votes – and this is what many have done.
Taking to Instagram, the Springbok rugby player Rudolph Gerhardus otherwise known as RG Snyman shared pictures of himself and his wife Saskia after casting their votes in Dublin, Ireland.
RG and his wife have been living in Ireland since winning the 2019 World Cup in Japan where he currently plays for the Munster rugby club.
In his Instagram post, he excitingly wrote the following:
“Voting day yesterday in Dublin. Was so proud to see all the South Africans get together to vote from over here had some great gees with people in the queue. Also, great job @southafricanbraai for lighting the fire to braai some boerewors.”
View this post on Instagram
Meanwhile, many more South Africans took to X (formerly Twitter) documenting the experience of how they exercised their voting rights despite living in different parts of the world.
One person shared the following:
I have my Chinese proficiency exam tomorrow morning, but I still took a study break to go to the South African Consulate General to exercise my right ??
Do the right thing! ??????#SAVotingAbroad #GeneralElections2024 #SAElections24 pic.twitter.com/gPzsKeW1Q2
— Busi 布希 Mjiyakho ?️????????? (@skinne_bee) May 18, 2024
Another posted:
Voting puts the power in your hands and is a way for every eligible citizen to use their voice to bring about change.#SAVotingAbroad#SAelections24 https://t.co/FYqN9OJDCd
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) May 18, 2024
A third user shared a video showing just how long the queues were in London.
The queue at #SouthAfrica?? House in #London is now longer. 2nd day of voting. #SAVotingAbroad #GeneralElections2024 pic.twitter.com/h1KuiTINQM
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) May 18, 2024
According to The South African, The IEC is satisfied with how smooth the voting processes went and gave credit to the months of meticulous planning that made the voting weekend a success.
Also see: ‘ANC will overwhelmingly win the elections,’ says Baleka Mbete
