Overseas Mzansi voter hopes for change!

SOUTH AFRICAN students studying abroad expressed mixed emotions about their voting experience on foreign land.

On Tuesday, 14 May, IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo announced that 76 000 South Africans staying overseas were expected to cast their votes from 17 to 19 May.

This was ahead of the seventh democratic elections in Mzansi on Wednesday, 29 May.

Matome Modiba from Bolobedu Limpopo, who studies BSC in civil engineering at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in Hungary, said it was his first-time voting, and the process in Hungary was not complicated.

"This was the first time in my life voting. I was surprised at how flawless the process was. It wasn't as packed as it was like in other countries. The embassy officials were communicative about what we needed to do. I'm glad I got to cast my vote," he said.

Matome said his academic journey has been exciting.

He's studying through a Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship, a joint initiative between the Department of Higher Education and Training in South Africa and the Ministry of Education in Hungary.

"My academic journey here started in 2020, and it has been great because I am on a fully funded scholarship. I don't have to worry much about tuition fees, accommodation and other academic expenses. I've enjoyed studying in Hungary."

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He said there are still challenges he faces.

"Language barrier is one of the challenges I've encountered. I'm just adjusting. English is not a national language in Hungary. That still surprises me to see an entire country running and not using English," Matome said.

With various challenges in South Africa, such as crime, unemployment and poverty, Matome said he wishes to see the government deliver on its promises.

"I wish to see better implementation of service delivery. Having lived here, something that I've come to appreciate along with most South Africans is the transportation infrastructure, where the transport runs on a schedule and not occupancy, which is nice because you can plan your days around it, and it's affordable."

Matome hopes to give back to his country once he completes his studies by partnering with local universities in research.

"My education is also in line with my idea of giving back to SA, which is through implementing similar infrastructure and partnering with local universities to research the best ways to implement because we would have to consider different factors. I think this can contribute somehow towards a safer South Africa, connect the country a lot better, and overall improve our air quality because fewer cars would hopefully operate," he said.

Matome voted in Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, on 18 May.