Can African voters break with the political tradition of voting ANC?

SOMETHING magical in the air seems to have aroused the black giant from its political slumber. Of course, this spirit has always been there and was easy to notice in 1994, 1999 and, again, in 2004. Ironically, the experts and other political commentators have always missed it by more than a mile. I guess it is to be expected as they are always out of touch with the people on the ground.

I suddenly awakened to it when I was standing in a queue to register to vote next year. I have been working very hard in the last few years and am privileged enough to afford to change my address in Soweto to a previous whites-only suburb, if you like. I noticed the number of cars lining the pavements as I approached the school turned into voting offices for the weekend. It was as if a black giant had, suddenly, woken up and taken over the former white area.

I spent about 45 minutes, patiently, waiting my turn in the queue. Something in the air kept on reminding me that this was a previous whites-only suburb. Most black people who work and walk here are domestic workers, gardeners, shop assistants, construction workers and other menial labourers. This reminded me that the more things change the more they stay the same. This seemed to strengthen my resolve to vote not for transformation but anybody who would push back the frontiers of white racism and monopoly of the best that this country has to offer.

This country needs to truly belong to the people who live in it, black and white. I decided that I will have to do my little bit to make this country what it ought to be: give a better quality of life to all its citizens, especially the African majority. I decided that I will keep my vote secret and not try to influence how others should vote.

I was happy to see that so many people had turned out on a Sunday afternoon to register to put whoever they wanted to be back into power. Normally, the pundits and other so-called experts will tell you that people have grown cynical and disillusioned about politics and the leadership in this country. They have lost the faith. Of course, they say this to discourage and influence people to vote in a particular way that will undermine the gains that needed to be consolidated since 1994.

I was not aware of any people who have given up on the ideal for a better life for all in this country. Of course, I am aware of a number of bad potatoes that want to use state power to make themselves rich and give tenders to their friends and relatives. But the people do not want this and something is definitely going to happen to leaders who abuse political power and positions for themselves. In fact, something has already been done to punish such short-sighted leaders and their followers. Some of us are still optimistic and keeping the faith for a better life for all.

In fact, the people get the leaders that they deserve. Something positive and powerful was definitely in the air at the registration offices where I live in Midrand. It made it very easy for me to keep the faith.
It turned out there were a lot of African people who felt obliged to come out to register so that they can show solidarity and support for the project that was started by Nelson Mandela in 1994. Of course, it was a good thing that there were all different parties who were canvassing for support and membership at the venue. Many of the people seemed to already know who they would vote for. It was very difficult to pick up nuances of a new political movement that was taking the country by storm. Instead, it seemed to be like all these people know and understand the importance of keeping your vote secret until … the results are announced. That is just the way things are and will always be for a very long time to come.

I was finally registered as a first-time voter in a previous whites-only suburb. When I got back my tattered identity document, I knew that it was important for me to vote for the right party.

There is a battle raging to correct the imbalances of the past and it starts with the ideal to transform suburbs from being oases of exclusive white privilege and power to reflect the demographics of the country. In previous elections, there was no ambivalence about which way the African majority would vote. There is far too much around them to remind that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Like a growing number of African professionals, I have moved and changed addresses, now. One part of me is African and proud but the other half is anti-racial and progressive.
But it is only when I have helped deliver the African from poverty, inequality and injustice that I will live in a better society.

The politics of this beautiful land have grown very complex and confusing since the recalling of a former president. But to get to the promised land, African people instinctively know what to do when it comes to doing the right thing.

I may not have read the pulse correctly, but it would seem that the black giant is aroused and ready to trample everyone who is standing in its way. I wonder how the experts see the voter turnout. Will the ANC get 70% at the polls next year? Maybe there is no reason it should not. But time will tell.