Now that I have your attention with that title, please read the entirety of the article before you comment.
The ANC recently celebrated its hundredth year anniversary, with the tag phrase a hundred years of struggle. In a contemporary post-Apartheid South Africa the ANC has absolute and final claim on the liberation struggle and the resulting new democracy and they use that to their advantage. To lead the ANC you need to have struggle credentials, the ANC understand that their part in the liberation struggle is a huge asset on voting day.
A couple of months ago I came across this quote for not only a popular culture icon but a struggle hero too.
“I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves.” - Ernesto "Che" Guevara
Don’t make the mistake that I would ever even think about badmouthing the liberation struggle and the heroes that gave us our beautiful, democratic and free South Africa. The words of Nelson Mandela, “Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another.” (one of my favourites by the way) are etched into my consciousness, they drive me and fuel my ambition. I have great respect for Walter Sisulu, OR Tambo, Chris Hani and so many others like them.
However, these men and woman fought the good fight and won our freedom (political freedom) and are now retired or with whomever they call their maker. Today we have an ANC filled with individuals with pseudo-liberation credentials that they milk come voting time.
So what is my point? It’s simple, can we not (after 18 years of democracy) have our leaders speaking about real issues, issues that face a modern South Africa, issues not rooted in the past. In saying that thought, I confess that due to past there are inequalities that we cannot ignore and should not ignore. The voting in of a party should not be based on antiquated struggle ties that have little relevance in a modern South Africa.
So next time you go to the polls this is all I ask of you. Research all your choices, be it the ANC, ACDP, IFP, DA or the PAC, examine which of your choices matches your expectations and then vote accordingly.
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