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Today, South Africa holds its fifth democratic elections in its 20 year history as a democracy. The day has been declared a public holiday so that everyone has the opportunity to vote.
It's a big election as many people are not happy with the current ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), and it's leader, Jacob Zuma. Our media here in SA, has been filled with stories of how Zuma has used about R200 million of public money for upgrades on his private home (that's about $20,000,000). In a country that has an unemployment rate of 25.2%, I'm sure you can see why that has sparked quite a bit of outrage. But people are concerned that most people will still vote for the ANC just because of it's history (being the party that Nelson Mandela was apart of when he became South Africa's first democratically elected president), rather than thinking about the candidates and party as a whole.
Regardless of the specifics of this election, it's fascinating for me to live in a country where the right to vote for all people is relatively new, after growing up in a country where I've never known anything different. I know that I don't truly appreciate the privilege, since I don't know what it's like not to have it. But watching those who do appreciate it and proudly exercise the right is so inspiring.
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Thank you, South Africa, for reminding those of us who also have the right to vote, of what a great and powerful gift it is!
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