Young ladies doing laundry at the Alexandra Women's Hostel
wearing T shirts of different political parties
The first democratic elections were a life changing event
that brought excitement, anxiety, hope and fear.
Fear was more dominant than excitement and hope 25 years
ago. Parents walked in numbers when they were attending meetings and to an
extent armed. As children we received various instructions, such as, Xa ubona
umntu ongamaziyo uxelele umntu omdala,
ungazityi iilekese oziphiwa ngumntu ongamaziyo; xa ubuzwa umntu walapha
ekuhlaleni uhlala phi uze uthi awumazi, wakugqiba ubaleke ubuye uzosibonisa
lomntu ubuza abantu, ungazityi iilekese oziphiwa ngamapolisa, ungaxeleli bantu
ngezinto zalapha ekhaya, among others.
If you were lucky, you would eves drop on the adult’s
conversation about Inkatha that has been spotted near Mthatha or the Flagstaff region. The
National Party threat was the one at the door and they shared advises on how one should respond when
approached by a National Party agent who was “buying” his or her vote or asked
information about those in the forefront of activism in the community.
“Do not say no, take the money or food parcel and agree to
vote for them. Do not eat the food or open the envelope or package, if the money
is in it. Stay alive, do not give them a reason to kill you. They will not set
their foot at the voting station to monitor you, we will be there,” was one of
the common advice given as talks of NP agents roaming the streets of Mdantsane
spread like wild fire in hush tones.
Watching news, discussing them, or using news as a cover to
discuss political issues was the cover our parents used to meet. For many of
us, who accompanied them to these talks it was a chance to continue playing
even in the dark, a rare privilege I might add.
The day came, the parents left very early, I remember
locking the door behind them with their peers already waiting for them in the
street, safety in numbers was still prioritised. I woke up late to a very cold isidudu and
umbhako, that we ate throughout the day. Most the parents had gone to vote, we
were free - free from bathing, free from making the bed, free from cleaning the
house, free to play all the hours they were gone.
But the freedom ended slowly, as the parents started
trickling in, in the groups that they left as. Each was called home to face
actions of the short lived freedom, kwakhala ibhanti nentonga yomtshayelo. For a few of us, it was worse as I was asked
to go fetch the stick that would be used to meet my punishment in the tree
nearby. Umthi weKwepire wakwa Sis Nombulelo, our parents swore by this tree,
its branches did not break but would bend as they were giving us a beating. We
stood there selecting and testing the best or should I say worst branch to take
home.
As soon as the houses were clean, bed made, parents were
back concentrating on the radio news , reports of violence in some areas, led
to them calling loved ones to check if they are ok. The evening came, we went
to the neighbour’s house to watch television. Parents roared, clapped and
ululated as they saw Nelson Mandela vote, as children we discussed the beatings
from earlier, those who did not get them laughed. The day ended, with
excitement and hope overwhelmingly high but fear was still lacking in some dark
corner.
As today’s parents, fear is the last thing on our minds, so
is the excitement and hope. Reports of political violence linked with the
elections have been almost nonexistence.
There has been service delivery protests that can be linked to the
election season. Political messages are shared publicly without fear. Political
party regalia has become a fashion statement that people wear freely. There are no whispers about the enemy, we are
not warning children about strangers who have ulterior political motives and
there are no places regarded as no go areas for a particular group of people.
Tomorrow, children are likely to be glued to their favourite cartoon channels
when adults make a quick in and out at the voting station, if the parent votes
at all.
The fear went out the window so is the excitement, besides
the political die hard who have been up and down praising their political
parties, there is no visible euphoria on the society at large, in fact you are
more likely to hear people asking political party members or leaders to leave
them alone. Elections also do not bring much hope for the general public
anymore.
Ndivotele ntoni, is a common question you will get when asking a person if they are going to vote. People have become despondent, as they see political parties and their leaders as devils who will not change their lives, thieves who do not aspire hope and self- riching megalomaniacs. South African politicians have proven that they put their parties first and the needs of the country take take second place.
It has become common for today's leaders to evoke the names of the fallen heroes who were seen as doing something positive for the society as they are draped in robes of scandals and are dripping stolen swag. That the country has offered us, these kind of people as our leaders is an indictment on us more than it is on them. How did we allow the bar of leadership to be this hopelessly low? How did we allow ourselves to reach this point, is a question that we have to answer as society even after the elections
Enough about complaining,the ball is now in our hands again. Our forward step rests on the Ndivotela ntoni question. You vote to bring hope to the country, you vote to change what you do not agree with, you vote to maintain what you support and deem to be right for the country and generations to come, you vote for the betterment of the country and yes your vote does count.
AMANDLA, NGAWETHU. Let us reclaim our power tomorrow.
Ndivotele ntoni, is a common question you will get when asking a person if they are going to vote. People have become despondent, as they see political parties and their leaders as devils who will not change their lives, thieves who do not aspire hope and self- riching megalomaniacs. South African politicians have proven that they put their parties first and the needs of the country take take second place.
It has become common for today's leaders to evoke the names of the fallen heroes who were seen as doing something positive for the society as they are draped in robes of scandals and are dripping stolen swag. That the country has offered us, these kind of people as our leaders is an indictment on us more than it is on them. How did we allow the bar of leadership to be this hopelessly low? How did we allow ourselves to reach this point, is a question that we have to answer as society even after the elections
Enough about complaining,the ball is now in our hands again. Our forward step rests on the Ndivotela ntoni question. You vote to bring hope to the country, you vote to change what you do not agree with, you vote to maintain what you support and deem to be right for the country and generations to come, you vote for the betterment of the country and yes your vote does count.
AMANDLA, NGAWETHU. Let us reclaim our power tomorrow.