Empty promises to a gullible electorate
TWENTY-seven years after our first democratically elected local government, election manifestos are launched in every corner of South Africa’s nine provinces and candidate lists are being scrutinised with a fine-tooth comb to make sure that wannabe Members of Parliament feature as promised.
This is arguably the only time when these fat cats move among the people and even crawl into squatter camps, emerging with little babies in their arms with scant regard for their designer clothes just to be seen that they care.
Lamp posts along all our main roads are overly decorated with posters of faces that we have never seen before; purportedly those who have the electorate’s wellbeing at heart or is this just seen as an opportunity to get on to the gravy train to enrich themselves and capture a slice of the enticing political cake?
Everyone caught in the preelection milieu with parties pulling out all the stops to ensure that they get all the votes.
The following poem speaks to this carnival time in which all sorts of empty promises are made to a gullible electorate :
ELECTION 2019
A record number of parties will participate in the election
Not a soul is spared the carnival and euphoric infection;
Eventually campaigns will be wrapped up with gigantic rallies
Attracting foes, friends and those living in alleys;
Going all out to wage a titanic electoral battle
That will undoubtedly explode in a historic rattle!
Thousands of buses are on order Standing by to cross every provincial border;
At an enormous cost of millions of rand
Caught in the milieu, voters will take a stand!
Though the ANC has substantial support
In light of all the fraud and corruption under their watch
Opposition parties intend their return to govern, abort;
Formidable players to watch are the red beret brigade and Cope
Who brings to the election fray refreshingly new hope;
And so with bar-coded ID book in hand
Millions will cast votes for the prosperity or state capture of their land? J COLIN JOOSTE | Observatory