Like a Virgin - Voting for the very first time

What I dislike most about test week is the fact that the stress it brings eclipses other aspects of my week, like the fact that I was voting for the very first time on May 7th. So I missed all the hype leading up to this Wednesday.

As a virgin-voter in 2014, I was incredibly conflicted about which party to vote for. My knowledge on political parties is limited to whatever is broadcast on Morning Live, A View from the House and the seven 'o clock news. I know as much as the mede-mens does.

I respect a lot of what the ANC has stood for and yes, they have had a good story to tell, but not under Jacob Zuma's management. I didn't want to vote for the man, who spends over R200 million of taxpayers' money on his private residence, to the the face of South Africa.

The DA, on the other hand, just complain about what the ANC, without offering real solutions. And clearly there is mismanagement and corruption on their part as well, considering most of Khayelitsha's residence support the ANC in a DA-dominated Western Cape. That, coupled with their support for Israel's Apartheid State, earns a 'no' for the opposition party from me. 

But, then again, voting for one of the smaller parties isn't very strategic when it comes to seats in Parliament.

I only made up my mind about my vote when I'd realized I'd been standing at the booth for over five minutes with a queue of people behind me.

To be honest my interest in this election was less on the fact that I was voting for the first time, and more on the outcome. The introduction of the EFF and Agang, and the recent public outbursts on their dislike of Zuma made for an exciting election; however, I didn't think we were going to be at a stage where the ANC and any opposition (most likely the DA) would be neck-and-neck. Twenty years seems like a long time, but when put into perspective it hasn't been that long since Apartheid ended. The generation before the born-frees will remain loyal to the ANC for their instrumental role in the Struggle. Perhaps in another two elections' time.

I voted at the local Civic Centre and it went pretty quickly; it took me about ten minutes for everything (minus the five minutes I spent at the booth) to get done and the IEC staff were friendly. There was a chilled vibe with families having picnics outside the centre. I was hoping to have a bit of a queue-vibe, but I was writing Auditing the next day so rushing back home to learn the payroll cycle was more of a priority.

It was only a few years ago that I was wondering about who I'd vote for when I was of age, so I guess the one thing this election has made me realize is that I'm getting old.

Nelson Mandela - Simplicity of Intention and Action.

The common Absurdist belief follows that the only two things that mankind can be certain of is life and death. It is the same for every man and woman, regardless of their status or wealth.

I think that’s something everyone should consider when we make decisions and take actions. We have a limited period on this earth, and we don’t even know the length of it. What matters is not the start of our life or our death, but the time in between. 

Nelson Mandela is someone who used his time effectively and is proof that sometimes simplicity in actions and intentions can create the biggest societal impact.

There appears to be no ‘idle time’ in his history. Even his twenty seven years on Robben Island wasn’t simply spent in isolation - his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom was drafted on scraps of toilet paper during his imprisonment and hidden in the garden outside his prison cell. 

Twenty-seven years of imprisonment is still difficult for me to understand because I’m only twenty. It seems practically nightmarish and untrue. But this is because I was born into a time when democracy was being introduced in South Africa, so I have no true understanding of the struggle the older generations of our country faced. The scary part is that I could have easily been born into a time of civil war in South Africa. But Nelson Mandela chose forgiveness over revenge, and I am able to enjoy rights, facilities and a life my parents and grandparents were not allowed to, able to choose my friends without the restriction of racial prejudice. 

Today marks the beginning of national mourning for the late president. But the best way to honour someone is to understand their legacy and do our best to ensure it’s never forgotten. For me, it will be his simplicity of his choices that will always stand out. Forgiveness saved South Africa from civil war. Wearing a t-shirt to show his support for those living with HIV and Aids created an awareness, eliminated any notion that is was taboo and gave hope to those affected by the illness. His support for the Springboks in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, in the wake of democracy, helped unite South Africans,

He was never excessive and over-dramatic, just simple and poignant. And this is something we could all implement in the uncertainty between life and death.

Thank you, Nelson Mandela, for your simplicity, your compassion and your determination. May your legacy remain deeply rooted in African soil and help our country flourish.