Mom says there’s nothing that will replace the memories of the ’94 elections in the hearts of South Africans. It was a dawn of a new era! It’s been 20 years and, to her, and others like her, nothing beats that moment – when they, for the first time in history, took part in the democratic elections.
But to us, this present-day generation of born-frees, the value of voting seems to be lost. I guess that’s what happens after 20 years of freedom. For instance, less than a quarter of people aged 18 to 19 are registered to vote. And that does not need a rocket scientist to figure out that we don’t regard voting as special in anyway.
The reasons vary from being disappointed by current corrupt leaders, to seeing no current leader who advocates for what they want, even among the throng of political parties that sprout out of nowhere like mushrooms – however ironic, that might be.
I think many would agree with me when I say that this was the most dramatic, entertaining and competitive elections campaign ever. I mean who can forget the number of political parties that sprung out of nowhere – AgangSA and EFF?! It will also never escape my memory the marriage that of two grannies that lasted for a shorter time than any of Kim Kardashian’s marriages. I seriously don’t know what they were doing.
The fifth general election of South Africa will also be remember for the advent of the fad of writing open letters – who can forget Patriotic Alliance’s Gayton Mckenzie reminiscent penning of a letter to Malema, calling him a “con-mander-In-Thief”? And numerous letters penned to call for the president to resign after he was found to have ‘unduly benefitted’ from security upgrades to his private home.
One other thing this year’s election will be remembered for is the banning of political ads by what I call the South African “Banning” Corporation aka the SABC. The public broadcaster is on a banning spree.
But most importantly, it is the first time for those who were born after the demise of the unjust system of apartheid to go into the polls, and make their mark. If anything else fails to make this election special that must, at least, make it special for us. First times are meant to be special – first kiss, first day at school, those are special days. We can only be the change we want to see, simply by casting a vote and holding our leaders accountable.
Whilst some are consulting their personal God/gods; some will sleep in churches in the hope of spiritual intervention and some will burn incest and call their ancestors for help.
The talking has been done, propagandas, debates, and it’s been a really funny campaign… now let’s go have fun and cast our votes.
Dish it: Will you be taking part in this year’s election? Why? If not, Why not?