Exciting day as born-free child votes

THE born-frees experienced their first democratic elections in our rainbow nation. I was so excited when I woke up at 5am and queued in Bluewater Bay on Wednesday with my wife, Monica, and daughter Sibahle, as she was voting for the first time under the new democratic dispensation.

When I asked her how she felt about voting, I was shocked when she replied it was real and cool that she could also cast her vote. I was also pleading with her and my wife to vote for the same political party that I was supporting as it has done remarkable things and brought in a lot of changes in the lives of the poor.

When I received the nod from my daughter, I said the future leader who would lead our country would take this country of ours forward.

It took me only eight minutes to cast my vote and by 8.10am I was done. We celebrated as a family with a champagne breakfast.

When I was in the queue waiting to cast my vote I remembered the words of the global icon, Tata Madiba, "During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

I would like to dedicate my vote and my family's votes to the late Nelson Mandela. Viva ANC, viva Mandela.

Passionate voter Richie Piyose, Bluewater Bay, Port Elizabeth