diplomatic ties
Ronnie Kasrils, a former head of the ANC’s intelligence military wing, Umkonto Wesizwe and Intelligence minister, says the spoiling of the ballots will be a protest of the ruling ANC’s misrule in the past few years.
Citizens must be proactive […] instead of only expressing their unhappiness
Kasrils, together with former deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, say by spoiling their votes, South Africans will be taking a stand against the dominant ANC, which is expected to win the May 7 elections.
They believe the ANC needs to be “taught a lesson” and not take voters for granted, citing the Marikana massacre in which the police gunned down several mineworkers in 2012 and the multi-million rand upgrade of President Jacob Zuma’s private residence in Kwazulu-Natal.
The two are garnering support for the “Sidikiwe Vukani! (We are tired, let us rise) Vote No campaign.
The aim of the campaign was to get struggle activists and concerned citizens not to vote for the ANC, or at least spoil their vote.
The ANC’s Nosiviwe Mapisa- Nqakula said it flies in the face of 20 years of the country’s democracy and had harsh words for her former colleagues.
“I think it is irresponsible and treacherous for anyone to come out and say our people should spoil their vote,” she said. “It a betrayal of everything we fought for in this country.”
The African Christian Democratic Party, ACDP said: “Spoiled votes, although they express dissatisfaction, still keep the same party in place.
“Citizens must be proactive, and instead of only expressing their unhappiness,” ACDP’s Jo-Ann Downs said.
The ANC youth league was more scathing: “To call on citizens to spoil their ballot papers or just do not participate in a hard-won democratic process is a behaviour unbecoming of an ANC member.
“As the ANC Youth League, we will consider filing a formal complaint with the ANC against Kasrils and like-minded friends, in due course”.
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