Big Day for SA tomorrow

So the masses head to the polls tomorrow. Thankfully it's another public holiday in SA (knock another few billion off the nation's GDP) but at least that gives everyone time to cast their ballot, even if they have to search for it in an ANC member's house. (Having election material in one of the parties vying for peoples vote is a no-no! - really?)

It's going to be hard fought although no one is under any illusion that the African National Congress (ANC) will not gain the majority vote. Corruption, theft and abuse of state resources are big draw cards for those who haven't got a brass farthing to rub together. I would suggest that the ANC of today is not exactly what Nelson Mandela might have envisaged when he marched to freedom in the early nineties.

My favourite new entrant to the political scene are the Economic Freedom Fighters lead by a part time carpenter, Julius Malema (only joking about the carpentry - I think he got an "H" for it in matric!). This party would like to expropriate everything without compensation (i.e. "steal") and then nationalise it (to add a veneer of respectability to the process).

Then it's about handing out a these ill-gotten gains in the following order:

1. The commander-in-chief and his cabinet; somebody has to pay for the Louis Vuitton shoes, Breitling watches and Mercedes cars
2. The party donors, because what right-thinking (sorry left thinking) individual sponsors a party that wants to eradicate the market economy without cashing in his or her chips VERY early on.
3. Registered party members; a badly built hut and an outside pit-toilet should suffice (no need to push the boat out for these loyal subjects)
4. The masses; well they haven't had anything for the last 20 years, so another 20 shouldn't be a problem
5. Whites....er...no; all their assets have been confiscated and they have emigrated overseas (Or they have been interned in re-education camps; apparently Julius's new nickname is Mao-lema. A bit chilling but at least Bob Mugabe will be in good company.)

And then of course the Democratic Alliance. I like the DA; they actually have a plan - and they have delivered on many of their election promises made in 2009 in relation to the Western Cape. They cannot help the fact that "the masses" have streamed in from other parts of the country to escape service delivery issues, rubbish education and zero employment prospects. (Or maybe it's some cynical ANC plot to redeploy voters!) In any event, they won't come anywhere close to winning - a party with a massive white constituency yet fronted by a white woman and a collection of young blacks doesn't seem to sit that well with the majority. Apparently a verifiable track record in making people's lives better is not enough. (Yes, the Cape has it's problems especially gang violence and drugs, but catching criminals in this regard is the responsibility of the national police force (sorry, "service") controlled by the Minister of Police, an ANC stalwart. Sorry forgive my cynicism.)

But at the end of the day South Africa is vibrant democracy and tomorrow people will stream to the polls and vote - for as long as there are multiple parties to vote for :)

Out.