The signing of the Tax Law Amendment Act by President Mr Jacob Zuma has infuriated many people, including the ANC’s tripartite alliance partner, Cosatu, whose members, the workers, represent a majority of voters.

What a bad timing from the presidency during such a crucial time when parties are gearing up to embark on campaigns for the local government elections to be held later this year.

Voter registration is scheduled for some time in March, which will indicate with the number of registrations attained if there will be a good turnout at the polls.

This newly amended law affects me and you pertaining our retirement, whereby, our pension or provident funds will pay out one third lump sum.

The rest will be paid out as a monthly pension.

What consultation was made with poor unsuspecting working class people who will be denied full access to their hard-earned money over so many years?

Whoever requested the state to regulate people’s private earnings as many have plans to further their lives with their retirement funds?

Is this one way of saving the state from a further increase of beneficiaries of the state’s pension payouts and forcibly allow the workers to fend for themselves from their hard-earned money?

Whoever advised the president on the tampering of this Bill, truly misled him as this will affect the ANC’s support base as this is one ammunition that opposition parties will capitalise on during their campaigns and on any public platforms.

Even the tripartite alliance are strained these days with Cosatu threatening not to assist in the election campaigns for the local government elections because they feel undermined and ignored as holders of the majority of voters in preference of big business influence.

Surely, if the ANC continues implementing things without proper consultations and not being realistic, they will feel the effects of being a law unto themselves by alienating their own friends and partners, Cosatu and the SACP.

They are in the numbers game because without numbers in politics, you will not survive.

On the local front, yours truly has been disturbed by the discovery of decaying bodies of two women, one in the city and the other one at Karino.

One never knows whether it was the work of criminals, domestic violence or ritual killings.

One cannot resist the notion that in some African states when there are elections looming, there’s bound to be an increase in ritual killings to strengthen candidates’ chances of ascending to seats of power.

In our case there is serious grappling by individuals to be one of the candidates on the list to qualify them to be councillors, if and when their parties win or earn seats at local government level.

People are desperate to be there as there is that perception that if you are a councillor then you’re made.

My concern is that a political appointment is a mere five years instead of one yearning for a permanent post.

In their desperation, I truly appeal to them not to kill innocent souls in the process, but focus on embarking on campaigns that will truly convince the electorate that their lives will change for the better.

Save our souls!