Ekas’lam: the invisible faith in democracy

AS SOUTH Africa throws its arms around 30 years of democracy and gears up for yet another round of voting antics, a quirky yet profound tale unfolds in the nooks of Ekas’lam township.

Enter the invisible faith in democracy, a sneaky little belief nestled deep in the hearts of the locals, stubbornly sticking around despite democracy’s not-so-great track record.

Picture this: amid the chaos of broken promises and economic woes, the folks of Ekas’lam are like eternal optimists at a never-ending buffet, always holding out hope for that one dish they’ve never tasted. Despite years of being stood up by democracy’s empty promises, they’re still in line, patiently waiting for their turn at the feast.

Now, democracy’s supposed to be this fancy party where everyone is invited, but in Ekas’lam, it often feels like they’re serving leftovers from last year’s bash. Poverty, unemployment and all those not-sofun things crash the party, making it hard to see the silver lining in the democratic clouds.

But fear not, because in the midst of this democratic drama, a hero emerges: grass roots activism! It’s like the local superhero squad, rallying the troops and fighting for change, one picket sign at a time. They’re the ones turning frowns upside down and showing democracy that they mean business.

So, as South Africa continues its democratic roller-coaster ride, let’s raise a toast to the invisible faith of Ekas’lam, because even in the face of adversity, they’re still standing tall, ready to shake things up and make democracy work for everyone.

Who knew politics could be this emotional, yet funny?

BONGANI NICHOLAS NGOMANE | Midrand