SA Rocks

The last time I voted was in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape in 2004 so it’ll be incredibly exciting to be queuing in London.

I came to the UK after struggling to find work back home but would like to go back sometime.

That’s why I think it’s so important that I’m allowed to vote even though I’m not in the country at the moment.

We’re going to be electing a government who’re going to serve for the next five years and in that time I may return so why shouldn’t I be able to choose who I’d like to govern?

For me there’s a lot riding on the result and especially in the direction that the country’s going to go.

I have so much hope for South Africa and miss my family a lot who’re all still living in Durban. Of course being in England the thing I miss the most is the sunshine.

– JANELLE SCRIMGEOUR

The above and a few more views are shown in a BBC article about voting abroad that is taking place.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Thanks to 2oceansvibe I finally found some photos of expats voting abroad in London:

Here’s the text that accompanied the photos:

Dear Seth,

I’m sure you’ll get a few of these today but here are a couple of pics of voters queuing up outside South Africa House in London this morning for the first ever overseas vote in the SA elections. A historic moment.

I took the photo at 8.55pm just after casting my vote. The voting station opened at 7am – I arrived at 7.10am and just over 1h30m later cast my vote. Hopefully it will make a difference!

Cheers

Johan

I echo Seth’s response: Well done to all expats who are making the effort to vote. Good on you.

UPDATE:

More photographs can be seen over at Ideate.co.za. Great to see more images coming through and the masses of queues at the voting polls.

Popularity: 15% [?]

After much bitching and moaning, much torment, badmouthing and ragging of the SA government, a mere 16 240 voters registered to vote abroad for the 2009 elections.

Let’s see the breakdown shall we:

London with 7 472
Canberra, Australia with 1 235
Dubai, United Arab Emirates with 900
Wellington, New Zealand with 410
The Hague, Netherlands with 378
Dublin, Ireland with 360

Wow. Here’s a small fact for you: There are estimated to be over 600 000 South African expats living abroad in LONDON ALONE. Of those ± 600 000 an embarrassing 7472 registered to vote. That is a shocking 1.24% of the expat population in London that bothered to register or apply to vote abroad in the upcoming elections.

I hate to take a rough stand here, but I want the names of the 7472 voters that registered in London because they are the only people living in the UK from SA that I ever want to hear talk about South Africa in a good or bad light. Either make your way back here so that voting isn’t “such a mission” for you over there, or just let go of SA.

As for the rest of the expat population, shame on you. Or Goodbye and thanks for all the fish.

Thank you to the ± 16 000 people who registered to vote abroad, now just be sure to get that vote in, every vote counts.

According to the IEC, South Africans voting at missions abroad must produce both their South African green bar-coded identity document or valid temporary identity certificate as well as their passport when they vote.

“Without these documents, voting will not be permitted. At the mission, they will also be required to complete an application form for a special vote, called a VEC 1 form.

“Voting stations at South African missions abroad will be open from 7am until 7pm,” the IEC said.

Voting times on 20 and 21 April in South Africa will be from 9am until 5pm.

Be sure to remember to take all the necessary documents to avoid disappointment.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Straight from the horses mouth and compliments of the Cooksister‘s wily eyes:

Constitutional Court ruling on overseas voting
12&nbspMar&nbsp2009
The Constitutional Court this morning delivered judgements in various cases concerning voting by citizens finding themselves outside the country on Election Day.

As we understand, the outcome can be summarised as follows:

1. All South Africans, registered on the voters� roll, who will be outside the country on Election Day and therefore unable to vote at the voting stations where they are registered, will be able to vote by special vote. They will be able to vote by special vote on 15 April 2009 at any South African Embassy, High Commission or Consulate outside South Africa.

2. These voters must notify the Chief Electoral Officer on or before 27 March 2009 of their intention to do so and at the same time indicate at which Embassy, High Commission or Consulate they want to vote on 15 April 2009.

3. South Africans who will be outside the country on 22 April, but want to vote at their voting station on 20 or 21 April 2009 must notify the Chief Electoral Officer on or before 27 March 2009 of their intention to do so. They will vote at the office of the Presiding Officer which will be located at or near their voting station.

The Electoral Commission is satisfied that it will be able to manage the extended special voting process successfully. The fact that only registered voters will be able to utilise the 15-day period of application for special votes as decided by the Court is within the IEC�s operational ability. We appeal to all South Africans affected by this ruling to immediately utilise this opportunity to notify the Chief Electoral Officer of their intention to vote.

For more information including the downloading of the necessary forms (VEC10), please visit the IEC website on www.elections.org.za. The completed VEC10 forms should be emailed to vec10@elections.org.za by 27 March 2009 or faxed to 012-428 5566/012-428 5279 or mailed to Attention: Chief Electoral Officer, Electoral Commission, PO Box 7943, Pretoria 0001 or hand delivered to Attention: Chief Electoral Officer, Election House, 260 Walker Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria

ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Pretoria
12 March 2009

For media enquiries please contact Kate Bapela on 082 600 6386

Popularity: 9% [?]

The Concourt ruling came through today with a “go”. Voters can now submit their votes in the national election if they are living abroad.

From the DA:

Today, the Constitutional Court ruled ruled in favour of the DA’s court application that South Africans who are living temporarily abroad and who are registered as voters must be allowed to cast their vote in the upcoming elections.

The Constitutional Court also granted a new 15 day period for South Africans abroad to apply for a special vote overseas.

This 15 day period has begun and all South Africans who are registered to vote and who want to apply for a special vote must get their applications submitted to the IEC before 27 March 2009.

The DA encourages every South African who is living abroad and who is registered to vote to apply for a special vote so that you can have your say in the upcoming elections.

And News24:

Johannesburg – The Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that registered voters living overseas can vote for the National Assembly in the April 22 elections.

They must notify the chief electoral officer of their intention to vote by March 27, the court ordered.

Handing down the first of two separate judgments Justice Kate O’Regan said the right to vote had a symbolic and democratic value.

However, the court did not support the move to allow registration abroad. Only registered voters abroad will be eligible to vote.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Lately I have taken part (been thrown in to) a few debates and conversations about voting.

The one pervasive thing that has arisen is that if people are too lazy to vote or register then any excuse will suffice.

This is wholly unacceptable to me and I wont put up with it. So let me try and make this as simple as possible for everyone reading so that we can all be inspired to head on over to our local registration office (IEC office) and register to vote in weekday working hours and VOTE on April 22nd 2009.

Excuse #1

None of the parties or leaders represent me, therefore I wont vote.

It’s simple. If you don’t vote you can’t complain. Especially when the ruling party gains a two thirds majority, changes the constitution and has the option to take this country to wherever they would like without a democratic vote needed. When that happens, you wont be able to complain, at all.

There are 144 registered parties. Pick the one closest to your opinions, views, likes and dislikes and go for it. But vote. It’s not hard.

Excuse #2

My vote wont matter so why should I bother?

This is an easy one. If you don’t want to vote because not one of the candidates represents you, because your brother, mother, friends aren’t going to or because you are just too apathetic when it comes to party politics then look at it this way: Vote for democracy. The only time a country can get close being democratic is if the citizens of the country actually step up and vote. There is no democracy if only 10% of the population vote, not in my mind at least. So cast your vote for democracy, cast your vote against the 2/3 majority that the ruling party (any ruling party) should never win but just be sure to cast your vote for this country and the people who you love who live here.

Excuse #3

The ANC is going to win anyways so who cares?

This one is probably true. But why would you not want to express your democratic right and freedom to vote. Even if you do want to vote for the ANC for legitimate and well thought out reasons but don’t because you think they will win anyays, get off your bum and don’t be apathetic.

A country’s democracy is only as strong as the number of citizens who vote.

So do you part, don’t be lazy, don’t regret it. Al Gore lost to G.W.Bush by 6 votes in Miami. Six votes, six people, six marks on a sheet of paper. Is that a joke? No, I am afraid not. He literally lost by 6 votes. So keep in mind that EVERY vote counts when it comes down to the results.

Popularity: 4% [?]

If crime isn’t a problem in SA and everyone has a job, if poverty doesn’t exist and everyone has food to eat, if every child is educated, not starving and has a roof over their heads and if South Africa is perfect…

then why vote?

The above statement is outrageous. At SA Rocks I have always maintained that I am not blindly and ignorantly positive. I am well aware of the problems facing South Africa but believe that they are problems that we can overcome, as a nation.

This is why today I have launched WhyVOTE?

WhyVOTE is an attempt at rallying people around registration and voting in the 2009 elections.

If this country is perfect in your eyes then why vote? But if you feel that change needs to take place then maybe it’s time you step up to the plate and contribute to your nation.

All the details are available on the site. So head over to WhyVOTE? and spread the word, download the banners and add your voice to the cause.

It’s time that we take back our country and show the world and our government and people how much we believe that SA really does Rock.

Popularity: 4% [?]