The people of Congo shall be free! ๐ฟ๐ฆ
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Joined February 2023
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Bolt_cutter retweeted
You cannot spend years benefiting from democratic representation and then dismiss the very democratic participation that made your political journey possible. It was through the votes of the people that South Africa got to experience Thabo Mbeki Junior in Parliament. That deserves some reflection.
But also, why didnโt he vote when his grandfather and current father Mbeki fought for this freedom? Or did being reminded that the real Mbeki Junior was taken by the regime hit a little too close to home?
And you still speak about the fragmentation of the black vote while actively contributing to the very problem you criticise. You cannot complain about divided votes while encouraging political disengagement. ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ
In the end, the writing is on the wallโproperly displayed in percentages.
It begs the obvious question: what is it about YOU that produced this performance? Why is it that you have lost almost half of your vote share? Yes, YOU!
As I have said before, go argue with the wall.
As for me, I did abstain. A deliberate, conscientious abstention.
The right to abstain is not limited to parliament or council sessions. It is very much constitutional, and available to all citizensโespecially those who DO register to vote!
That our voter registration increases by millions every time is a sign of genuine interest. When they do not show up to vote, after turning out to register, they may very well be refusing to choose between different versions of failure!
Voting MUST NEVER be a conscription; it is a right that comes with responsibilityโone that canโt be deployed without conscience.
Above all, NO ONE is entitled to people's votes. VOTES are earned, just like respect. To say otherwise is the gospel according to dictators.
How else can we explain that Mandela campaigned in 1994 and lost both KZN and Western Cape, yet Mbeki won both 10 years later? They earned the votes through results on the ground by improving the living standards of our people. They were NOT ENTITLED to them!
Those who protest by deliberately not voting or deliberately spoiling their vote are exercising as sacred a right as the right to vote! A true revolutionary should know that, and would listen to them, for they too have registered a view!
It is in line with this spiritโthe letter of which is in the Constitution, that 'every citizen is free to make political choices'โthat Ronnie Kasrils, alongside Barney Pityana and others, in 2014 called on people to protest by spoiling their vote.
Iโm sure youโll agree, these are stalwarts of the anti-apartheid movement. They understood that no oneโNOT even their own comradesโis ENTITLED to votes.
But first, go to the wall, brother. There, the measure of your weight is fully determined."
Bolt_cutter retweeted
Hereโs the thing, of course he has a constitutional right to speak on anything. But morally, that man has lost all credibility!. Voting was suitable when he was in politics and needed the votes. Now that his a podcaster thereโs โtoo many partiesโฆentitlement warra warraโ. Mxm
Bolt_cutter retweeted
Said a lot of valid points up there. In contrast, you were a Member of Parliament for 10 years by the same votes you are abstaining to give now ๐๐ญ
Bolt_cutter retweeted
No my brother. The constitution itself is a product of a political process derived from voting. Imagine if in 1994 people abstained in protest to the violence and intimidation that was playing out.
Bolt_cutter retweeted
he's just a podcaster at this point. his peers are macg & londie london ๐๐พ
Bolt_cutter retweeted
I recall back in 2022, at UJ APK you lectured us on the importance of voting. You said we must never make a mistake of thinking not voting is a solution, instead we would be at risk of selling our democracy to the white minority that would exercise that right and take over. ๐ซต๐ฝ๐ค
In the end, the writing is on the wallโproperly displayed in percentages.
It begs the obvious question: what is it about YOU that produced this performance? Why is it that you have lost almost half of your vote share? Yes, YOU!
As I have said before, go argue with the wall.
As for me, I did abstain. A deliberate, conscientious abstention.
The right to abstain is not limited to parliament or council sessions. It is very much constitutional, and available to all citizensโespecially those who DO register to vote!
That our voter registration increases by millions every time is a sign of genuine interest. When they do not show up to vote, after turning out to register, they may very well be refusing to choose between different versions of failure!
Voting MUST NEVER be a conscription; it is a right that comes with responsibilityโone that canโt be deployed without conscience.
Above all, NO ONE is entitled to people's votes. VOTES are earned, just like respect. To say otherwise is the gospel according to dictators.
How else can we explain that Mandela campaigned in 1994 and lost both KZN and Western Cape, yet Mbeki won both 10 years later? They earned the votes through results on the ground by improving the living standards of our people. They were NOT ENTITLED to them!
Those who protest by deliberately not voting or deliberately spoiling their vote are exercising as sacred a right as the right to vote! A true revolutionary should know that, and would listen to them, for they too have registered a view!
It is in line with this spiritโthe letter of which is in the Constitution, that 'every citizen is free to make political choices'โthat Ronnie Kasrils, alongside Barney Pityana and others, in 2014 called on people to protest by spoiling their vote.
Iโm sure youโll agree, these are stalwarts of the anti-apartheid movement. They understood that no oneโNOT even their own comradesโis ENTITLED to votes.
But first, go to the wall, brother. There, the measure of your weight is fully determined."
