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Why I Won’t be Dropping into the Ballot Box This Year
South Africa celebrates 25 years of democracy today
But for the first time since that euphoric 27 April 1994, I’m not casting my vote on 8 May. I’m a proud South African. I love my country and the people who live in it.
With one exception.
“Under every stone lurks a politician.” — Aristophanes
Are the Greek comic playwright’s words still relevant today?
A resounding “Yes” to that.
Whom do politicians serve?
Corruption is the byword for politics in my dictionary. It’s a global plague not unique to my country — a career path to serve self-interest and greed rather than serve the people.
In South Africa civic society and intrepid investigative journalists helped to topple the 10- year reign of Zuma and his cronies in 2017. The tentacles of his reign reach deep into business and government and will take more than a decade to root out.
In Sudan, the people have spoken and continue their peaceful protests. President Omar al-Bashir has been overthrown and arrested by the military but the people will continue to raise their voices until a civilian government is in place.
