Juggernaut

Anyone of you guys manage to vote at one of the foreign embassies ?

Just wondering how it all went down for you. The mood of the people, organization ect. ??

Wednesday we all get to put down our cross in S.A. Interesting times.

Daxk

Juggernaut, Although the Dublin Embassy was badly organised iro of the process,I dont in fairness think they had much back up in terms of training from the IEC.
it took forever but the mood was good humoured resignation and Dublin does'nt suffer from the attitude I have seen in other SA Embassy's and Consulates.
My Hats off to the staff for doing the best they could in a courteous manner.

What was interesting is that there are 27,000 odd South African born people in Ireland according to the last census, only 800 odd registered to vote and I doubt 400 cast their vote.
The rest have obviously written SA off.

Tegwyn

I am actually yet to meet any South Africans here that believe their vote would count. They think that it is merely a token gesture and the results are a given regardless.

Tegwyn

Nice little blurb about the merits of our fine President Zuma. Ah yes, let the dung roll downhill. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/ar...dent-week.html

ausmartin

Just became an Australian citizen last week so would not be that eager to go and vote for SA( Not even sure if I would be able to) In any case cant see any of us in other countries voting would make a difference - what, couple of hundred thousand vs uhm lets think A COUPLE OF MILLION!!!!!!
Think I will skip that one and concentrate on something more important - voting in our Western Australia referendum on daylight saving!!!!

Stanley10

So did you vote?

Stanley10

"In the old days, he'd have been called a 'cheeky kaffir'"

With an attitude like this, how can you take the rest seriously? This bloke probably calls himself a journalist, he's an absolute disgrace, thinks he's civilised because he wears a suit?

Tegwyn

No Stanley I did not vote. I made a point of shaking off my South African passport because it is not seen in a good light worldwide. Not only that, a white face's ballot would probably be used to light the nearest bush fire anyway. As you know, I am British by birth so was dual. As for the article, yes there are some comments in there that are unpleasant, but the facts are that the man who is taking the most important office in South Africa is of a calibre of standards that should make most South Africans shudder should be a concern. I don't subscribe to the bad lingo but I don't play with labels either. The man is the worst possible candidate for a better South Africa and the majority have voted for him. One can only shake our heads and wonder when the new Aid to South Africa program begins. Mugabe has found himself a kin spirit.

Stanley10

The "journalist" is clearly racist and proud of it. What kind of a rag is the "Daily Mail" employing such people?

As for Zuma, you may think "The man is the worst possible candidate", but obviously millions of South Africans think differently, (I'm sure some are voting for the party rather than the man) thats democracy for you. Next time around they can chose differently if he doesn't deliver.

shiftdelete

so, did you vote

Pablo

The brave Stanley voted with his feet, and now cheers on the kleptocrats and killers from the safety of Australia.

Some comment from Peter Hitchens below.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/ar...president.html

Daxk

And in the Context of the time, it would have been common usage, in the same way, what were little black faced dolls called? Gollywogs?
And which little white child child did'nt have one?
I think the journo is absolutely correct, he would have been called a cheeky kaffir, by the 19th Century Brits as well as the colonials.
In What way is he incorrect? Stanley?
It was common usage.

shiftdelete

so Jugs- by all accounts the vote went very well with a huge turnout. It seems that they almost extended it due to the long queues. How did you experience it? Are you optimistic that things are on the right track?

Tegwyn

Yes, the man is clearly racist and how dare they employ him. I feel the same about your new and improved government and citizens that clearly shows some of the same tendencies. Some with a very vicious slant. Stand on your soap box and yell racist all you like but you know, you have to make sure the glass house is shatterproof.

ededed

Looks like the ANC will get their 2/3rds majority - on the results so far. This wasn't a problem when Mbeki and Nelson were in power but Zuma will probably use the opportunity to change the constitution. Scary times for non-JZ cronies. COPE seem to have crashed and burned - the ANC's spin machine clearly doing it's job.

The lack of delivery over the past 15 years has been the only truly remarkable thing about this government - and yet still the electorate get fooled and believe JZ will bring the change the country needs. Is JZ really the best the ANC can offer? Is there another G20 country that would have elected someone with his reputation? The electorate have no idea of how this looks to the outside world, and how it will harm inward investment.

To misquote the Sun when GWB was re-elected in the USA - "how can 10 million South Africans be so dumb"?