The future Zumaland

Today my country goes to the polls in what may be the most important elections since '94. If the ANC wins a two-third majority we can say goodbye to South Africa and hello Zumaland. Zumaland will more than likely be modelled on the Zimbabwean system of government as most of the ANC drones seem to worship this tyranical despot.

You see, they just don't get it - they don't have the basic understanding of economics and leadership. They don't care about the masses of people living in abject poverty, in hovels unfit for human habitation. Or perhaps they long to return to the days of old living without modern conveniences like electricity and running water - herding cattle and occasionally declaring war on neighbouring tribes for entertainment. You see this is what could happen if the wrong people end up with a two-thirds majority.

Sure the leaders will live in luxury, emptying the country's coffers into their own bank accounts but the masses will suffer like their Zimbabwean brothers. Too many innocent people will suffer and recovery will not be possibility. They will cry to their leaders asking why they have betrayed them, but the leaders will turn a deaf ear - after all they have their utopia; their people long forgotten.

I feel scared and angry when I think of Zumaland and know that South Africa doesn't have to become yet another lost African nation. If only the people would open their eyes and see the true nature of their leaders. I hear stories of people voting for the ANC because of Mandela or because the ANC helped to eradicate Apartheid, but surely this shouldn't be enough of a reason to sign the death warrant of your country?

Yes Apartheid was wrong - we all get that. Yes Mandela is a good man - we get that too, but surely the time has come to get South Africa back on her feet. Voting should be about the future and not the past. All the ANC has proven in the past 15 years is that it doesn't give a damn about the masses. There is more unemployment; worse crime and corruption; as well as a weaker economy than there was during the "undemocratic" years. This isn't to say that we should return to those times either, but surely we can build a better South Africa now - where all men and women have the right to life in safety and have access to jobs.

I know that the ANC will win but I just hope that enough people will vote against them so that they don't get majority rule. I for one will do not wish to see Zumaland become a reality.

Election Time

Well on Wednesday history will be made. After a long hard fight the South African government has conceded – Saffa’s living overseas can vote in the general elections and I am so excited.

It is rather weird considering that I was never interested in Politics and I always felt that voting was pretty pointless. In Africa, votes tend to get counted, and recounted until the right party wins. This time around I feel a lot more positive, I actually want to vote. Why – well simply because I believe in South Africa and I want to make a difference, no matter how small that difference may be.

Sure I am not naïve, I know that the ANC will still win by a majority and we will be stuck with Zuma as President, but if we can eat away into their stranglehold on the country we may be able to ensure that South Africa doesn’t go the way of Zimbabwe. All I know is that to give up hope is like signing South Africa’s death warrant.

When I was there over the Christmas period, I noticed how people’s attitudes are changing. People are getting cross with the governments impotence and mismanagement, that’s why there are breakaway parties like COPE. What we really need is strong opposition leaders who can rally the people together and give them hope in a more positive future – ironically the same can be said for the UK, but I feel feathers for this country and its politics.

I know the situation in South Africa is pretty dire. The president-to-be can best be described as a cross between George Bush and Gaddafi , and the Zulu warrior blood runs strong in him, however there is still some sort of democracy in South Africa and perhaps the opposition may be able to keep him in line.

All I know is that I want to return to my South Africa, sure it has changed – in some ways positively and other ways negatively. We are a nation of survivors and if it wasn’t for the corruption and crime, it would be thriving. So on Wednesday I will proudly vote, not just to help shift the powerbase away from the ANC but also to say very clearly “I have not given up on South Africa.”