Through My Eyes

Author: Kasia Yoko
Date: 2013-11-15

Helen Zille did put on a strong offensive last week. She was sms'ing me at least twice a day and I even managed a few emails. This is how committed she was to getting my vote. But I could not stop to think her sms's reminded me of the messages I get from USA Lotto, "You have won $6million to claim just send us your banking details"

Helen also recons that I can win, but sadly I am slightly reluctant to believe her, I have seen too many of those con sms and I am scared that this might be one of them.

I do really want to believe that Helen is going to make me win and reading her pitch I can almost see my victory;

"The stakes have never been so high." says Helen in her email letter. "2014 is going to change everything in South Africa. If enough DA supporters register and vote, we'll not only win another province, we will also lay the foundation for what could be a change in national government in 2019"

"All it takes for you to play your part is your ID and a few minutes of your time. If you're unsure whether you're registered in your area, simply SMS your ID number to 32810. If you need help in registering, you can call the DA hotline on 0861 22 55 32."

"Next year we'll call on you to vote to win. But first everyone must register to win" Doesn't it sound a bit dodgy; next she might be asking for your bank account number

Anyway Jacob Zuma is still lying in the gutter on my street, someone has done a proper job of tearing his posters down and letting them rot and nobody seems to care. Nothing feels right about the next elections.

A friend who has just returned from six months in Europe could not believe when she saw the increase in the price of food. Have you noticed it too? What concerns me is that none of the statistics released to the public are correct and I just do not know what to believe anymore.

According to a number of reliable studies, few campaigns in the current time have been completely free of dirty politics. Some policymakers say that an effect of negative campaigning, while it motivates the base of support, it can alienate mainstream and undecided voters from the political process, reducing voter turnout and radicalising politics.

Dirty politics means we all suffer directly or indirectly. Do we want real democracy or the current oligarchy disguising itself as democracy? Is that what South Africa needs? I'm sure not... because our new and young democracy needs a fighting chance. We can become the fantastic example to the rest of the world including our other African counterparts; NOT because we are superior or better than them but because we know how apartheid nearly cost this country everything.

For a time, the post-1994 political oratory of rainbows and forgiveness worked its magic on the country and its youth quite convincingly. Now because of this dirty politics, young people are losing confidence in democratic principles and legitimate democratic institutions of the country.

Unless the ANC-led government wants the country to be ruled by anarchy and civil disobedience, decisive measures must be taken to bring back confidence in our 1994 Constitution.

What we all need to remember is that in 2014 South Africa will celebrate twenty years of democracy. The question I would like to ask is, will these dirty politics bring the much needed transformation our country so desperately needs? Or will it leave a mess for the next generation? Prosperity for all or destruction...

Springclean

Enlarge View Link

Nissan T5ekton

Enlarge View Link