SA Rocks

KuduClub, in collaboration with the ATKV, Jukebox, kykNET, Rapport and OFM, are offering one lucky family the opportunity to bring a loved one home for Christmas.

Recognising that returning home to spend the festive season with the family is what all homesick expats long for, KuduClub – the online subscription channel that dishes up the best in South African entertainment – conceptualised the Tuis vir Kersfees campaign.

Now one lucky individual and his/her companion stands the chance of winning two return tickets back to South Africa on 22 December 2009. The KuduClub team will fetch them in their current country of residence and bring them home. There is nothing like a warm South African Christmas surrounded by loved ones, when you’ve spent the last few knee-deep in snow.

Says Andries Vrey, General Manager: Afrikaans (DStv Online): “The number of expats who log onto KuduClub.com to watch Jukebox and request songs for their friends and family back home, has opened our eyes to the fact that there are many South Africans spread across the world who would love to be home for a sunny Christmas. The festive season is a time when families come together and celebrate, and the KuduClub community are no different. We are pleased to offer the lucky winner of Tuis vir Kersfees the opportunity to spend Christmas at home”.

To enter the competition, SMS* the word KERSFEES and your name to 34585. Or visit www.kuduclub.com to enter online.

* R2 per SMS. Free SMS’s don’t apply.

Competition closes soon (Nov 25th 2009) so get your entries in ASAP!

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by Adam Currie

Well, well, well…I do love to spark a debate and my last little ramble (A Canuck Kaapie) certainly got some individuals’ blood boiling. A good few old-school Johannes’ shook their heads, put there brandewyn’s aside, and decided to give me a good ol’ Groot Krokodil finger wag.

I was thrown the ever so popular, ‘Why aren’t you back in South Africa then’ line, as well as the clichéd, and oh so melodramatic ‘Crime in SA is real’ spiel… (cue the violin music). I am well aware of crime in SA- my student digs in Grahamstown- with a permanent SAPS inspector parking spot- can attest to that. However in life you will always have the pessimistic cowboy in his rocking chair, just waiting to shoot down the first glimpse of optimism.

It got me thinking and, after a discussion with some other young Saffa’s this side of the pond, I decided to gain some perspective. Being new to this land of frosty winters and mediocre ales, I decided to head down to my local watering hole in order to watch the Mighty Men in Green demolish those silly chaps in black, with that funny pre-game dance (Boks vs All Blacks if the sporting metaphors are not driving home here).

I pulled up a chair at the first Saffa supporting table I could find- not difficult… it was beaming with beers, meat and an all round incredible aura that would make Mandela and Sisulu do an African jive. I announced that I was new to Canada and, upon hearing my oh so smooth Saffa tones, was greeted with a backslap, a ‘howzit’ and an ice cold frosty beverage that would make the SAB breweries chairman kick his heels with glee.

I asked what had bought these fine esteemed individuals, stemming from Potch to Paarl, to this land of maple leaves and lumberjacks. I was expecting the clichéd drones of ‘South Africa is going the way of Zim’, or worse yet ‘I am here on the new white refugee programme’. But what was this? These fine learned persons threw crazy lines out such as ‘I am here to build up my skills, and then perhaps head home after’, or …‘I am young and traveling with every intention of heading home’. My word… The audacity of them all. I felt for a second a feeling of euphoria. A feeling that, unlike Brandon Huntley, I was indeed not alone in this cruel world.

As we sat and chatted it became clear that ‘our’ generation was not defined by age or race. Old and young we sat and conversed, discussing essential and global diplomatic issues. Issues such as Shalk’s mullet to Zuma’s latest auto’s sector stimulus policy. We threw in terms such as ‘china’, and were greeted by a hoorah by the Asian contingent in the back corner. My word, what a spectacular gathering of the finest South African minds of tomorrow.

We were indeed optimistic about SA, yet wanted a bit of travel under our belt that stemmed further than the Springs/ Benoni campsite. Madness I know, but true. We might not have agreed on the important things in life (i.e. WP are clearly returning to their glory days), however the question of returning home was not an option…it was a ‘gimme’. There we sat…black and white (stop coughing- old school cowboy ‘we will never unite’ readers…it is true…serious…no really…black AND white), and discussed our future paths. The paths indeed differed, however the destination was predominantly ‘home’.

I must be the first to admit that I am not some ‘the world is made of candy floss and bunnies’ hippie, that feels if we all just took the time to hug the person next to us, that the world would be a better place. I am fully aware of the issues faced by our nation daily, and am fully aware of factors such as crime, HIV, and the stigma attached to being ‘African’. However, jeepers what an awesome feeling to know that I am indeed an African.

I keep stressing myself as to being part of a ‘lucky generation’ and hell yes I am. No country in the world can speak as openly about issues such as race, discrimination, and the importance of a decent fast bowler in our cricket side than a Saffa, and we are all the better for it. We have transcended from an era of being held back with regards to discussion and thought, to one that is now hailed as a model of developing democracy in its finest form (I stress ‘Developing’ as I can feel the rage ascending in that cowboy now). Yes, I know we have issues, however what other country can boast as far as we have come?

I have traveled and seen places that are supposed to be what South Africa ‘should’ strive to be. I have seen the first world, and with it its fantastic public transport systems (*cough* splutter*…1 x Saffa taxi over London underground anyday thanks), yet still think that South Africa has more potential than these pantheons of first world society.

So I leave you with this…I will indeed come home (very soon in fact), print out my CV and get in line. So dad prep the grid, mom please pack the sarnies for the cricket, and gents make sure that the Labels are cold.

I realise the going will be tough and the issues faced by South African daily are real. However…I am also Saff-nised enough to realise that we are the best damn individuals on the planet, blessed to be part of this era in our history, and that in while not perfect with regards to our domestic issues, we are the envy of many…and, regardless of any pessimistic old grouches telling me otherwise, there is no rather place that I would rather end up.

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I’m very glad that someone put together a video of expats voting abroad and specifically in London. Glad to see it!

From the Youtube page:

Over 6000 South Africans travelled to the South African House in Trafalgar Square, London to cast their vote on the 15 April 2009. Thanks to a recent verdict from the Constitutional Court South African’s were allowed to vote abroad – the last time South Africans were able to vote overseas was in 1994. For more pics from the day see http://www.flickr.com/photos/frannies… Thanks to Fourmanfilms for loaning me the camera.

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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.

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Ed’s note: This post is a contribution from Adam Currie who currently lives in the UK and cast his vote yesterday in the 2009 SA Elections.

Well the time had come….

Sitting on mud island, an entire time zone and continent away does not set exactly set the tone for making oneself feel “Seffrican”. But none the less after months of facebook reminder bombardments, news website updates and at least 3 phone calls to a confused and clueless South Africa House, the election was upon us…well abroad anyways.

I must admit that after hearing of the random Afrikaner teacher preaching his democratic rights, and even more random Freedom Front filing court orders to the nation’s highest courts, I never quite did believe that there would be a positive result. But there we were… lined up outside South African House Trafalgar Square with 1 x green ID, 1 x passport and 7000 x other Saffa’s ready to, for lack of a better cliché, make our mark.

Calls from mates mid afternoon with tales of horror story delays of 2 hours plus, I trekked up the Northern Line expecting the worst and asking myself is it all worth it? I joined the queue and prepared for a scrum of sweaty bodies on London’s hottest day of the year (20 degrees baby!). But wait…what was this? People lined up patiently…an orderly line with the only shouting being that of the South Africa Times vendor yelling out for anyone wanting free copies.

I wish I could tell you that stories of nostalgia, visions of apartheid uprisings or even passing Madiba’s statue on the way to the embassy inspired me to place my vote…but I can’t. All through my life I have been bombarded with messages dictating that we are the “lucky” generation, and that this vote is a privilege. However I think not. I consider it not a privilege but a right and feel that the real stalwarts of the struggle would be proud of that mindset. If Sisulu and Tambo thought that a white boy standing next to his black brother in a vote for the nation’s leadership, and thinking nothing of it, I reckon they would turn to each other and give each other a good pat on the back…struggle won.

Of course we should remember and respect what was done leading up to a democracy, however at the same time we must put them where they belong…in thoughts, prayers and history books. In that queue we stood, black, white, coloured…and, occasionally, some lost Spanish tourist thinking it was the queue for the gallery. We stood alongside each other in jovial spirits chuffed at the fact we were allowed to make a difference- no matter how small- to the land that we love and for 90 percent of people there- the land that we WILL return. People often claim that expats should not be allowed to vote in that they have ‘turned their backs’ on the country. Well the procession outside SA House begged to differ as thousands lined the streets to cast their vote for a country they truly hold dear and I have no doubt will experience a brain flood (note the way I reversed brain drain there…sharp wasn’t it?) within the coming years.

The process was smooth as the line shifted inside with African flashbacks of Home Affairs beginning to make me tremble…but to no avail. The vibe was organised and efficient and within minutes I stood, purple marker scarred hand and ready to (insert cheesy political party signboard slogan here). I stepped up to the booth…had a giggle at some of the parties listed (come on….some are hilarious- I mean surely no one actually votes KISS) and marked my X. The entire build up was over…political debates from the finest minds in the land and months of campaigning for those brief few seconds had culminated in a sweet victory for me…the Seffrican abroad.

This is what election should be about. People lining up and savouring the spirit of the occasion, check political agendas at the door, walking in and placing their trust in a party that will cater for the masses. I often am amazed when Saffa’s bad mouth home. You get the occasional punter preaching how South Africa will descend into chaos and that classic “tsk tsk…we will go the way of Zim” remark…however these are clearly the okes that could not function a fax machine to apply for their vote, as everyone there CARED. Usually you only get that sort of vibe come Springbok games down the pub, however there it was…election queue and all.

When my British colleagues say that I should be grateful I got to cast my vote, my response is ‘why’? Why should I feel grateful that I am doing something that every South Africa should does have the right to do? The beauty of democracy and the one that I have grown up in makes me believe that this process is sacred yes, but also my right. So I say congrats to the freedom fighters of yesteryear, a massive thanks to the people at the voting station for a successful day…. and to note to all political leaders for next times overseas votes- boerie roll stand outside the embassy can guarantee you a majority!

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After all the bitching about the expat vote, the bitching about the process, and the conspiracy theories, I thought I’d tell you a little about my experience today here in London. As soon as the Constitutional Court decision came through, I sent off my & hubby’s application to vote abroad. I got an e-mail confirming receipt, and when I checked our status on the IEC website it was all in order – we were registered in Port Elizabeth and approved to vote in London. This afternoon I got to South Africa House on Trafalgar Square clutching my VEC 1 form, passport and ID book. Unlike this morning’s 2-hour queues, we only had a 30 minute wait but the 5-deep queue still snaked all the way along the front of the building. HIV Positive & the DA were walking around handing out literature and talking to people and there were loads of free SA newspapers being given out – it was a relaxed and happy atmosphere, rather like the 1994 election I thought – just with more red busses and pigeons!

Once inside, everything was very efficient and everyone was very friendly – plus we got a peek at the very lovely interior of the Sir Herbert Baker building and its Pierneef paintings. Bonus. We got an envelope on which we had to write our names & voting district, then we got the ballot paper and a second blank envelope (read about this system here). We were checked against the voters’ roll and had hour thumbs marked, and then we voted. I was tempted to seal my ballot paper with a kiss – it was that kind of shivers-down-the-spine moment.

This is one South African who is not about to give up lightly the right that so many of my countrymen fought and died for, no matter where I happen to be.

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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.

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After yesterday’s post on the number of expats who are registered to vote and the debate that ensued, I decided to look at things from another perspective perhaps.

I had dinner with a very good friend of mine last night, let’s call him James. James always has a wonderful perspective on life and not surprisingly he had an interesting argument here too.

James suggests that what we as South Africa (the nation) should be doing is investing in our expatriate community, starting with one simple vote. Giving them that vote and allowing them to have that ownership of possible change and decision making would more than likely win many expats over.

The basic premise is simple: There are resources, foreign currencies and very, very good people who have moved overseas for a variety of reasons. An increasing number are moving over to other countries purely for business purposes. Because they are the best of the best and this might mean that they are pushed to thrive in business by leaving their home country for ten years. Who am I to judge? Good point James.

There are always going to be people who leave for the irrational reasons, for the valid reasons of violence, crime, curroption and expect those problems not to exist where they move to. I am more interested in the expats who are wanting to experience the world, to live life to the fullest and who have the ability to do so. It is hypocritical for me, in today’s world, to think that we cannot be South Africans abroad when the world is globalising and shrinking at such a rapid rate.

I am impressed with this argument and this side of the coin, I think it could possibly be the way to go. I am still disappointed in the small number of expats voting, but maybe it’s time that I took some of the blame for that and started embracing expats in to the culture and community of South Africa?

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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.

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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

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