SA Rocks

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: 6% [?]

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: 3% [?]

According to the IEC 3.6 million South Africans passed through ±19 000 registration stations over the registration weekend that just passed.

I am fairly impressed I must say.

Apparently a total of 1 648 189 new voters were registered, the rest were people checking their details and changing their voter districts. Again, I am impressed.

The most interesting news that I read at southafrica.info is that SA Citizens can register on any weekday within offices hours at your nearest IEC office.

I am going to repeat this news (probably for the next 6 months):

A Citizens can register on any weekday within offices hours at your nearest IEC office

.

To find your nearest IEC office visit the IEC Contact us page.

Incase that doesn’t work call the numbers below:

Eastern Cape Provincial Office
The Mansions, 14 Ganteaume Cresent, Quigney, East London
Tel: (043) 709 4200
Fax: (043) 7434784

Free State Provincial Office
NRE Building , 161 Zastron Street, Bloemfontein
Tel: (051) 401 5000
Fax: (051) 430 4845

Gauteng Provincial Office
1st Floor, A-Block, Empire Park,
55 Empire Road,
Parktown
Tel: (011) 644 7400
Fax: (011) 644 7448

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office
Westville Civic Centre (Main Building)
William Lester Drive
Westville, 3629
Tel: (031) 279 2200
Fax: (031) 279 2226

Mpumalanga Provincial Office
Nelplex Building
13 van Rensburg Street
Nelspruit
Tel: (013) 754 0200
Fax: (013) 753 2564

Northern Cape Provincial Office
MBA Building, 20 Currie Street, Kimberley
Tel: (053) 838 5000
Fax: (053) 831 8095

Limpopo Province Provincial Office
15A Landros Mare Street, Polokwane
Tel: (015) 291 0600
Fax: (015) 295 9609

North West Provincial Office
103 Sekame Street, Mmabatho
Tel: (018) 387 6500
Fax: (018) 387 6522

Western Cape Provincial Office
5th Floor
Mutual Centre
52-54 Voortrekker Road
Bellville
7530
Cape Town
Tel: (021) 944 5300
Fax: (021) 945 2691

Popularity: 3% [?]

My recent DA blog post sparked some very interesting, strange and debatable points. The one that intrigues me the most right now (and probably for the next 6 months) is voter education. Below is a comment I published as a response to someone asking me to “convince them to vote”. Firstly I am really shocked and surprised that I need to convince anyone to vote, but this is my response however rushed and off the top of my head:

Basically, you can tell me that the parties are all failures, all liars, all cheats, bigots or whatever you think but at the end of the day they aren’t all like that. They do some very promising work and actually do (alot of the time) try to better the public. You can moan and tell me that your area has had a pothole for two weeks, yes but so have many others.

The reason that you should vote is very simple: Democracy is based on a voting system. If you do not vote then you are allowing a party in to government that actually isn’t representative of the people, but rather a small faction of the people. Our democracy would be in a much better working order – especially with a proportional representation system – if more people voted, votes were fought for and people held their governments and political parties to task with their vote. But right now the parties know that all they need is roughly 8million votes to win an election. It’s apathetic voters that allow parties and politicians to get away with murder.

Imagine if the ANC completely lost the next elections because the people weren’t happy with their outcomes. That would send a message to every party out there that South Africans want results. But in fact, the message we send is: “Ah, you know, you screwed up but I don’t really care enough to tell you with my vote and help educate others to vote so you can take power again and carry on in the same way.”

Voting matters. You can deny it until you die but the fact is that voting matters.

Popularity: 8% [?]