Not yet Uhuru

With a week away to the polls where South Africans will be casting their votes for the local municipality; I must admit that I am one of those who are sceptical about doing so. A lot of masses stressed how vital voting is; I asked why should I bother? And i was met with 'its a pass that gives you the voice to air your views' response. Is that so...

Our elders fought tirelessly under the oppression by the apartheid regime in a sense that someday me and many others will live freely in our native land.

Taking part in the struggle that resulted in democracy; how would those who shed blood like to see become of the effort put to changing lives?

I don't want to dwell much on the politicians as the thought of them irks me but then again how can I shy away as they are the leaders tasked to foresee that the citizens of this country receive the 'better lives' that are forever promised to them prior elections.

Just as we celebrated Freedom Day late last month I underwent an agonising experience in exploring how a life of a less privilege people who still reside in a shack (despite voting a couple of times and had their names struck off the waiting list by corrupt councillors mainly because they couldn't afford to pay a bribe so they can get an RDP house for over ten years) changed since we are dubbed free and have rights.

I was astonished by the living conditions of some of our people, it's a norm that most of us grew up in dire poverty and strived to make something out of our lives but how do you explain living in an environment that lack basic needs? As this take place in a rich province of Gauteng what will become of rural areas? In this day and age it is totally uncalled for to still be having children attending school lessons under a tree OR a leaking roof with unstable walls meanwhile there are leaders with bulging tummies cruising around in luxury wheels, dining at expensive hotels and restaurants and spending taxpayers money as if its falling from the sky. We really are being taken for a ride yet we are expected to vote, what is it that we are voting for? Could it be to enrich someone...

One can live without electricity as alternative can be found but water is something else altogether, yes change takes time and its a process but until when will our people suffer? I am very fond of a pay-off line that goes 'Political parties don't own our vote, they have to earn them' and loyalty has prevailed over the years for our people thus arrogancy from certain individuals. The only time you will have a surprise visit from politicians and their entourage is when they canvass and campaign for our votes and that is the last you will see them. It beats me that for over
seventeen years people don't realise this.

I can only hope that someday God will find favours for those who are destitute and deliver them from the bad treatment they are made to be the recipient of just like he did with his children during Moses era.