There was a premier who once said, “It is acceptable for politicians to lie”. Guess who it was – former Mpumalanga premier, Ndaweni Mahlangu, who had replaced Mathews Phosa.
I might have been younger at that time, but I have grown to learn that his infamous sentiment caused a stir within the political circles. Some even went as far as wanting him to be crucified for telling the truth. Was Mahlangu right or wrong? Are our politicians honest or not? Can we trust them?
I still vividly remember June 2, 1999 when I went to make my first cross during the general elections. It was a dream come true for me to finally have my voice heard. Ever since then, I have been participating in elections – national assembly, provincial legislature and municipal councils.
Why did I vote? Because every time elections loomed, politicians crawled out like cockroaches to garner our votes. They promise us houses, jobs and service delivery – the usual old recycled lies. And once they have our votes, they are done with us for the next four years. The reality, however, is that we don’t have houses or proper service delivery because we live in a system of total inequality, a system of capitalism and the state.
Now with the fifth national general election on May 7, politicians (whether from the ANC, DA, EFF, Cope or Agang SA) are once again coming out of the woodworks to garner votes. As part of this, they are using their usual second-hand lies. They want our votes so that they too can become comfortable and rich.
They are now visiting us at our homes, schools, churches, and even sheebeens – I mean everywhere the public meets – left, right and centre.
Personally, I’m torn between voting and not voting. I know it’s my civic responsibility and other people (like Swaziland) don’t have this liberty. Our town, townships and outskirt residential areas are an embarrassment and disgrace. I have lived here for many years. When I grew up, Barberton was a busy, productive town and the municipality looked after it. We had the cleanest streets, no unannounced load-shedding, water-supply disruption or unfair employment practice. Now it looks like a slum. Where are all the municipal rates going?
So the question is, do I vote at all? Will not doing it help or hurt my cause? Can I vote with a moral conscience knowing I don’t like the party or the leader I’m voting for? Do I vote liberal because they are the only bad alternative to a terrible situation?
“It was acceptable and not unusual for a politician to lie.” Mahlangu was not speaking about our current leadership, but one would be forgiven for thinking that he knew something about our future that the rest of us did not.
As we get closer to election day, I’ll make up my mind.
Here is my vote.
Anyone who wants my vote, come and grab it.
But what will you do for me?
I don’t need a house, free groceries or to been governed.
All I want is to be independent.
Come May 7.
