I had a conversation with a woman in her 40s and another who is 24. They were both adamant that they would not vote. The younger woman does not believe in democracy and yearns for monarchy, a time of Kings and Queens. I did not take her seriously.

A true challenge was the older woman. I had proposed to her that I would vote for the first time next year.

Our beliefs shape us because I know that for a long time, she was a practising Rastafari. This means she does not buy into authority, lives a spiritually liberated life and definitely does not believe in “politricks”. She is the embodiment of freedom.

I am far too pragmatic. I cannot and will never live without modern systems of governance and economics. While she yearns for land to grow things, I would like an apartment in a cosmopolitan city, rubbing shoulders with artists and academics. While she is a supporter of homeschooling, I am a private school enthusiast, and I would love better leaders who will improve our public education. I totally buy into our constitution. It is a clash of values.

Anyway, she explained to me that all politics is a waste of time and there is no better party. That people will still vote for the ANC for many years to come. I almost felt suicidal.

My only hope was in her closing words when she said that people would eventually wake up from the ANC and politics, in general, gradually. She made an example of a time when most black women relaxed their hair. Now, we see a surge in Afros and Dreadz. This has been an evolutionary shift of self-love—a consciousness of our natural beauty.

I went home and mulled on her words and saw reason and wisdom.

I’ll still vote next year.

Disclaimer: Views are of the author and do not represent the Fundza organisation.