ELECTIONS HERE WE COME…

As we all know, the elections are here and you should know by now exactly who you’re voting for… Major issues and controversy arose against the leading party and the DA about open toilets, the elections were even named “TOILET ELECTIONS” because everything was about the open toilets in the Free-state and Maropeng. As an aspiring journalist I went out onto the field and took onus on asking people who they were voting for. Nomvula Sikhakhane a 2^nd year journalism student Said that she was voting for the ANC leading party because she felt that they are doing an excellent job and that they should stay in power as they are the only party that does not discriminate against other parties and supports and respects other political parties for their own personal views and differences.
Mbuso Mkhize a 3^rd year journalism student said that he was not going to vote for any political party because the it hasn’t done anything for him, it hasn’t put food on his table and it hasn’t done anything to make him want to put a cross next to their names. People have different opinions as to whether or not they’re voting. Some believe that voting gives them the right to complain and that by voting they are making a difference but others think that by voting they’re throwing away their votes and don’t see the need for it. South Africa's national and provincial elections take place every five years.

Voters vote for a political party, not individuals. The political party then gets a share of seats in Parliament in direct proportion to the number of votes it got in the election. Each party then decides on members to fill the seats it has won. This is called a proportional representation (PR) voting system.

National government makes and carries out laws and policies for the whole country. It is made up of:

Ø  Parliament led by the Speaker

Ø  National Government led by the President and Ministers

Provincial government makes and carries out laws and policies that affect the province only. It is made up of:

Ø  Legislature (the laws of the country) led by the Speaker

Ø  Provincial Government led by the Premier and Members of the Executive Council (MECs)

Democratic national and provincial elections have taken place every five years starting in 1994. By-elections take place within 90 days after a municipal ward council seat becomes vacant due to death, expulsion or resignation of a ward councillor.

However if people don’t want to vote they are not forced to do so, your vote is your right and to others it is their own personal secret.