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Are South Africans ready for Wednesday鈥檚 national election?

President Cyril Ramaphosa鈥檚 African National Congress has been in power since 1994. The party acknowledges that it鈥檚 facing a difficult test.

Are South Africans ready for Wednesday鈥檚 national election?

鈥淪ince hearing that political parties will be launching their election manifestos, I decided to attend these events. I wanted to hear for myself which president would address our needs as college students. It鈥檚 my first time voting鈥 鈥 Thembeka Dliwako, South African voter

In today鈥檚 podcast, Mpho Lakaje sits down with 21-year-old Thembeka Dliwako, who will be voting for the very first time in her life.

In her country, she鈥檚 popularly known as 鈥淣omarally鈥, loosely translated as, 鈥淭he lady of the rallies鈥.

That鈥檚 because, in recent months she鈥檚 been doing something rather unusual.

She鈥檚 been traveling to different parts of the country, attending the political rallies of various parties, wanting to hear for herself what leaders have to offer.

Mpho also visits Johannesburg attorney, Oatlhotse Thupayatlase who voted for the first time back in 1994, in an election that marked the end of apartheid.

Is he still as excited about casting his ballot as he was 30 years ago?

Approximately 27 million South Africans are eligible to vote in the watershed general election on Wednesday.

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18 minutes

Podcast