SA Democrats gather for Obama

2008-10-31 09:36

Verashni Pillay

Johannesburg - As millions of Democrats root for presidential hopeful Barack Obama in the run-up to the US elections, one group is getting the celebrations started in South Africa with over 500 registered voters.

Democrats Abroad in South Africa (Dasa), which was established in December 2007, is holding "Discussions Around Hope" just two days before voting day on November 4, in support of presidential hopeful Barack Obama's bid for the White House.

The historic election could see the US, for the first time, vote an African American into the highest office in the land.

"Our gathering will send reflections of the hope that have been generated in this important election year back to the US from South Africa, and we hope will create threads of discussion and debate that South Africa too can benefit from," Monica Faith Stewart, co-chairperson of Dasa told News24.

Six million Americans abroad

Ballots have been cast via absentee voting for the approximately six million American citizens living abroad, through US embassies and consulates.

But the Democratic Party has taken expat participation a step further by establishing offices in several countries. The South African branch opened in December 1997 and has enjoyed wide support thanks to the global interest in Democrat candidate Obama and his message of change.

"America seems to be interfering with the world right now, so most international people feel that America needs to change and Obama is that change," said Dasa chairperson R Courtney Priester. He said it was hardly surprising that South Africans had such an interest in the Illinois senator. "The fact that he is a son of Africa definitely has a direct appeal to Africans," said Priester.

He said there was no such office for Republicans in South Africa, in support of the other main contender for the position, John McCain.

The race between McCain and Obama has captured the world's attention in the final week of campaigning. American consulates across South Africa are planning celebrations for the announcement of the new president, and will kick off watching the vote tally early the morning after the election, according to Priester.

True history

"You know I never want to go back but I will definitely go back on January 20th if I can get in to the inauguration," said Priester, an entrepreneur and voice-over artist who has lived in South Africa since 2003 with his wife. "That is true history there. I'd like to be a part of that one."

He hopes to have former president Thabo Mbeki's mother Epainette Mbeki at the small gathering in Johannesburg on November 2, which will host leading South African analysts discussing key themes around the election.

He said the US election had global significance. "Even though he would be the president of America it is still more of an international affair just because of what is going on with the stock markets - all that started in America. So people realised what effect a missed step in America could have on their own system."

With South Africa's own election around the corner Priester thinks there are lessons to be learnt in the US election.

"What I would like to see in South Africa is people participating in the process," he said. "Just the common man working in the polls, doing volunteer work, and just getting involved. Because I truly believe if you're not participating you can't complain about the results."

And as for the results of the US election, Priester predicts a "landslide victory" for the Democrats.

" I don't think there any room to do any of the Bush foolishness that happened in the last elections. I think he will win by more than enough so there won't any question."

- News24