2014.04.15
Guest contributor Saajidah Malvinah tells us why she won’t take her right to vote lightly.
“South Africa deserves better government.” “ANC – a better life for all.” “Vote for Cope.” “Vote for change.”
Election fever has gripped South Africa. Posters and pamphlets fill our post boxes, streets and local papers. Twenty years after apartheid was lifted, we have our fifth democratic election wherein people of all colours and creeds are able to vote.
The question on every ones lips: “Should I vote?” Initially, during the first few elections people rushed to register and vote. However today the gift of being able to vote is taken for granted. The majority of South Africa’s population are youth under the age of 35 and voting is not given much prominence in their lives.
According to political analysts, the 2014 election is more important than the previous elections. In previous elections the vast majority voted for the ANC due to the ANC’s struggle history. This liberation party was at the forefront of fighting apartheid and negotiated a peace deal averting a full-blown war. Ten to fifteen years later apartheid could still be blamed for the government’s mistakes, but 20 years later we face different challenges.
The ruling party is riddled with corruption. R246 million was used on security upgrades to Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead bringing the party to disrepute. Internal strife besets the once liberation movement. In 2011 it was revealed between R25 billion and R30 billion of the South African government’s procurement budget alone is lost annually to corruption, incompetence and negligence in the public service.
The official opposition to the ruling party, the Democratic Alliance, is connected to the apartheid state of Israel. The former leader of the DA, Tony Leon, is married to Michal (formerly Even-Zahav) from Israel. In February it emerged Nathan Kirsch, one of the donors of Agang, and a regular donor of the official opposition has close ties with Israel. Kirsch is Director and owner of Israel’s Magal Security System, a company complicit in the construction of Israel’s illegal apartheid wall, which is against international law. The DA is complicit too in opposing the erection of several masajid and adhan bans in South Africa.
“Certainly Allah will not change a condition until you change yourself.” – al QUR’AAN
While the above situation seems bleak and many have decided to do nothing to change, one cannot sit back doing nothing and expecting something.
I recommend setting a trend of change instead of waiting for others to make the change. There are numerous parties that have various options. It’s no use complaining after the elections that this is not right and that went wrong if you did nothing to change it.
As Muslims we have a moral obligation to make a difference to our communities, and our country as a whole. Muslims are a minority in this country around 2% of the population, thus we should be appreciative of the freedoms we have, and not remain complacent. We should be active and play an important role in our young democracy lest it be snatched away from us like it happened in Burma, Kosovo etc.
Don’t follow a trend rather be a trendsetter.
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