Next year, South Africans go to the polls for our fourth democratic elections. Can we choose hope over fear and rise above the barbed-wire of racial politics to vote for the change we need? NO WE CAN’T!
Come on, we all know that ANC supporters will once again reward the ANC for past failures. The ANC’s liberation credentials guarantee them an overwhelming landslide victory. The best we can hope for is to temper the ANC’s overwhelming majority by voting for an opposition party.
Two weeks ago, in the Sunday Times, Chris Barron interviewed Angie Motshekga (President of the ANC Women's League and contender for premier of Gauteng). She said that it is in the best interests of all South Africans to have a de facto one-party state that can't be blocked from doing what it thinks is best. Let's punish the ANC for this profound arrogance. Use this weekend to register to vote if you haven't done so already and next year, make the effort to vote for an opposition party. Say no to a one-party state. Say no to arrogance and corruption. Say no to free-wheeling cadre deployment and a childish disregard for the procedures of parliament. Say no to the ANC.
The first step towards reducing the ANC’s power (and that will ultimately be good for them) is to make sure you are registered to vote in next year’s election.
To check if you are registered SMS your ID number to 32810.
If you are not registered, then make sure you get registered this weekend.
VOTER REGISTRATION WEEKEND 8-9 November 2008 Voting stations open 08:00 to 17:00 For more information call 0800 11 8000 toll free from a landline OR SMS your ID to 32810 if you are already registered to check your details |
Remember to take your green bar coded ID book with you. If you don't have the correct ID book then you will need to get one from the Department of Home Affairs. They will also be open this weekend (Saturday and Sunday) so you can apply for an ID book and hopefully then be in a position to register should there be another registration weekend.
To find out where your nearest registration/voting station is located, use this station finder from the IEC website: http://www.elections.org.za/SearchVD.asp
Im quite amazed at how many Black South Africans have told me that they are not going to vote at all.
It seems there is still a culture in SA of showing dissilusionment with the ANC by not voting at all rather than voting for an opposition party.
Maybe the new COP will help to change this.
Posted by: Gary | November 07, 2008 at 09:50
No way to vote if you're living overseas, I assume?
Posted by: Hard Rain | November 08, 2008 at 01:10
No postal votes. Sorry.
Posted by: mike | November 08, 2008 at 01:34
well makes no difference to me, since even if were back in SA, I wouldn't vote.
yo Mike just want to inform you that whenever I bump into South Africans here in Israel, and the subject of politics is broached I always plug your blog..
Posted by: Lawrence | November 08, 2008 at 11:54
Thanks Lawrence. Even if you think our comment has degenerated into sabc/m&g claptrap :)
Posted by: Steve | November 08, 2008 at 19:54
I actually checked this. I'm feeling left out cause in the past 2 weeks the Americans and New Zealanders have voted.
So I phoned the consulate here.
I have to register for this "overseas" vote in person, in Pretoria.
Posted by: Derikboy | November 10, 2008 at 04:30
just as an aside, the last day is the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, when the Holocaust of Jews officially began with the deportation of thousands of Jews to concentration camps, and of course the burning of the synagogues etc..
The always in your face tells-it-like-it-is journalist Debbie Schlussel (hint hint Steve and Mike) makes some good points on a post about it at her blog, and how so many Jews today have learned nothing from the terrible lessons of the Nazi barbarities.
Read what she has to say here
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/
and what she says about this despicable Horwitz and American Jews in general of course applies to more than a few (prominent) Jews in SA, without mentioning names...like I need to.
Posted by: Lawrence | November 10, 2008 at 12:55
Hi Lawrence when I criticized American Jews for supporting Osama Obama , Daniel from new York said it was DISGUSTING that I said that caring about Israel should be a priority for American Jews and that American Jews should not expect Israel to help them should the shit hit the fanin the USA, if ever Jews come under attack there, if theyshow how much they care about Israel by voting Obama.
Posted by: Gary | November 10, 2008 at 13:40
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