CAN you feel it coming? Change is upon us, of this I am sure. So we have made it through the first voter registration weekend and from the turnout I can definitely see that change is on its way.
Running between the voting stations I was amazed at the sheer number of people that had come out to register and re-register. This means that you, the community, are revving up to make your mark and that excites me. As a country we are facing some pretty tough times and the only chance we get to actually effectively have a say is with our vote. This is a right that has been hard fought for and should by no means be taken lightly.
We the people of South Africa are who the politicians serve and not the other way around as it is right now. We need to have the say over whom determines our future and I think that now is the time. Now is the time for each of us to step up and be counted, not since 1994 have we been in such a dire need of change. This isn’t about political positioning or party rhetoric, this is about democracy.
Democracy is at its core all about change; it is about growth and learning and it is about choice. I know that I have made my choice, have you?
I could go on and on about the state of affairs but I think everyone is well aware of it. Instead I will rather paint a picture of what could be. Imagine a time and a place where children can walk to school without fear of being robbed or worse. Where families can gather and enjoy precious time together in the sun. Happy smiles and warm exchanges become the order of the day. Imagine a time and a place where people could find jobs and provide for their families, a place of prosperity and the rule of law.
This is a place that I want to be in, a place where I want to live happily and freely. A place where the only colour that matters is the beautiful autumn leaves that softly caress the earth. A place where neighbours help each other and communities come together.
As the great songwriter, Freddy Mercury said, “is this the real life or is this just a fantasy?” Well I believe that if we “open our eyes and see” this fantasy could and can be our reality.
You may also be interested in reading:
https://www.citizen.co.za/alberton-record/94051/in-with-the-new/
