Election season: a carnival time for empty promises

TWENTY-seven years after our first democratic elections, local government election manifestos are being 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 councillors feature as promised.

This is arguably the only time when these fat cats move among the people and – with scant regard for their designer clothes – even crawl into squatter camps, emerging with grubby babies on their arms just to show that they care. Lamp posts along our main roads are overlydecorated with posters portraying faces we have never seen before; purportedly those who have the electorate’s well-being at heart.

Or is this just an opportunity for them to get on to the gravy train, to capture a slice of the enticing political cake? Everyone is caught-up in the pre–election fever, with parties pulling out all the stops to ensure 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 2021

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 bring 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