Education is the key to a brighter future

NOW more than ever, educating ourselves on the voting process and not being sucked in by misinformation in the form of messages, voice notes and videos is crucial.

A voice note went viral on social media over the last week, informing the country that over-60s are entitled to vote on the special voting days without having to register.

Assuming there are millions of over-60 registered voters across the country, and tens of thousands in the City of uMhlathuze alone, one can only imagine the chaos that would ensue if this were legitimate.

To quote South Africa’s former president Nelson Mandela, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’.

This not only applies to education in general, but also to educating yourself on voting in the elections, and what exactly it entails.

And apply critical thinking in the run-up to the elections.

As this year’s voting will be slightly different from previous years and include independent candidates for the first time, it is essential we all know exactly what we’re supposed to do inside that voting booth.

It’s heart-warming to see NPOs like the KwaDlangezwabased Linzwa Foundation taking it upon themselves to hold election education workshops in rural areas.

Sadly, it is often those who do not have access to such information who ultimately pay the price.

As we celebrate 30 years of democracy in South Africa, let us take stock not only of where we have come from, but what we have achieved, and still need to achieve.

There is much educational material on the IEC website, there’s no excuse to not be informed.

Let us not just make our mark this election day, let us make an informed mark that can only come from an educated electorate.