SOUTH AFRICAN GENERAL ELECTIONS 2009

SA POLITICAL PARTIES in the 2009 Elections

The five year cycle is on its end again, and South Africans are looking to the upcoming elections with a new found fervour. The biggest talking point on the local front will be how big the influence of The Congress of the People (COPE), the breakaway party from the African National Congress (ANC) will have on the dominance the ANC has had in the local government. Preliminary tendencies have shown that COPE, under former ANC member, Mosiuoa Lekota, are going to stir things up within the ANC and its faithful supporters. In a speech that Lekota gave to a group of students and lecturers at the University of Stellenbosch he stated that South Africans who left the country should “return to the place that their fathers, grandfathers and elders established, because they can’t possibly have more rights in another country.”

But another talking point on the international scene will be the ruling in the Pretoria High Court in February this year that has instated a right that has evaded the South African Democracy since 1994. South Africans abroad now have the right to a special vote. This has been hailed from many ports as a victory in itself for South African Democracy. If the pending court case on the 4th of March is a success our readers may get the right to vote. Here is a little information as to who is doing what in our part of the continent.

AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

After coming into power in 1994, the subsequent 15 years of a New South Africa has been a time of change for our country. Some observers are keen for the government to start delivering on some long awaited promises, and others are of the opinion that the government has delivered well up to this point.

PARTY LEADER: Jacob Zuma – With a pending case of fraud hanging over his head, it remains to be seen if he will be eligible for President if the party wins the election. www.anc.org.za

DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE

Having campaigned during the previous elections to be the official opposition, the DA has grown in leaps and bounds over the past five years, securing the majority of the councils in the Western Cape Province, including the Cape Town local government. They have endlessly campaigned against the ANC and government and believe that South Africans abroad deserve to vote. They have campaigned for legislation to be passed in this regard.

PARTY LEADER: Hellen Zille – This vigorous party leader and Mayor of Cape Town, has proved her worth after taking over from Tony Leon as the leader of this party. As mayor she has won an award as the best Mayor in the world in 2008, and her passion for uplifting South Africans everywhere is apparent. www.da.org.za

CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE
The party caused some ructions in the local political scene after acting on a long rumoured split in the ANC. Two things that Lekota would be campaigning for, if elected to power, is the re-instatement of the death penalty and greater investment in farming and agriculture. The party has hit a chord with South Africans, regardless of creed, truly making it a party for everyone.

PARTY LEADER: Mosiuoa Lekota – Also known as Patrick and Terror (a nickname that comes from his days as soccer player and soldier), this leader has inspired many into hoping for a better future for South Africa. He is of the belief that corruption in the top structures should be rooted out and that South Africa should truly be run as a free and democratic country. www.congressofthepeople.org.za

NEED TO KNOW

Q&A with IEC Chief Communication Officer, Kate Bapela,

What is the status now on the court case regarding the voting issue for expat South Africans?
The Constitutional Court will hear the matter on 4 and 6 March 09.

What form of identity will we need to vote abroad?
A South African, green, bar-coded identity document and a South African passport.

Where will the voting post be in the UK, has this been looked at yet?
Special voting will take place at the High Commission in London.

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