Use vote to shape up politicians

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THE biggest threat to the stability of our country is not Julius Malema whipping up a storm, it is you and I, every man and woman who is eligible to cast his or her vote that threatens South Africa.

Malema speaks for the forgotten. The electorate need to understand the power they have in determining their own future and the future of those around them.

The easiest way to get a politician to shape up is to threaten his future through the ballot box.

Burning tyres and toyi-toyiing gets you attention for a matter of hours – if you are lucky, a day or two from the politicians.

Let's imagine that if all the disgruntled citizens of South Africa put all their frustrations presently displayed by service delivery protests into an opposition party ballot box, the very politicians they were angry with, would no longer be in power the following day.

You would have given the mandate to another group eager to impress.

And impressive they will need to be or else they will befall the same fate.

Today's leaders will try to impress you with strategies such as the "second transition" and nullify your anger and shield their failures with fall-back excuses such as the "legacy of the previous regime".

We cannot afford to be hoodwinked by another Polokwane at Mangaung.

The ANC is going to present to you two factions – pro-Zuma and anti-Zuma – as the ANC's best candidates going forward at Mangaung.

Hopefully the pro-Zumas will fail if the anti-Zumas listen to the likes of Malema and oust Mr Zuma. The anti-Zuma camp, by simple deduction, will be the next generation in control.

However, it is still the ANC. Will there be a complete overhaul? NO!

If at the time of casting your vote, you again choose to vote ANC, the same guys operating behind the scenes will be there.

A significant number have been there since 1994.

Many are captains of industry perfectly poised to take advantage of puppet politicians.

Listen to what Malema is saying. The same lack of service delivery will continue.

The ANC has not delivered on their mandate. Remember they have been in power since 1994.

If they had delivered, would we see the protests we are experiencing? I doubt it. The lack of health, education, policing and employment all fail the majority of South Africans.

Wasted and misdirected billions of rands under this government.

Why the propping up of President Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe and the Kingdom of Swaziland while South Africans are desperate to the point of despair? It is a shame that our countrymen are overlooked.

How is it possible that there is so much poverty in one of the richest countries in the world? How is it possible that we are so adept at collecting taxes yet pathetically inadequate at putting taxes to good use?

The BEE entrepreneurs and tenderpreneurs have been allowed to ply their trade under the ANC. The deployment of cadres over competence and ability to service the electorate, has been allowed to prosper.

Nepotism, jobs for pals and state employees doing unethical business in their private capacity with the state at the expense of the state, is rife.

Theft from the public purse and shallow promises to stamp out corruption, have crippled this country. The Kabuso Report, the behaviour of our former mayor and the plight of NMBM are snapshots of the plight of South Africa.

Voters look within yourselves. Forget protests and toyi-toyiing. Do not be fooled by clever politicians and empty promises. We are 18 years wiser in the art of politics. Quietly reflect your position, shy away from mob hysteria and influence, believe that your vote is sacred and find courage from within to vote for change. We deserve it.