Poster People

Various party's election posters decorate lampposts along the way to anywhere at the moment Tomorrow being our elections. These posters make for entertaining reading. Like the UDM's (United Democratic Movement - headed up by Bantu Holomisa), which proclaims: "Now is the time for all South Africans" Oh really - to do what, I wonder? What about the FF's (Freedom Front - bastion of the persistently white vote) blunder? They have 4 or 5 teens on their poster - none of them black people Ooooh! That's so not ok. Helen Zille's DA (Democratic Alliance) tells us: "We CAN win" And this is one of the exciting things about these elections - will this party do better than before because of her track record of honesty and getting things done? Will the electorate really believe that a white woman cares for everyone, regardless of race? We'll see. COPE (Congress of the People) - the breakaway of the ANC: those ex-ANC stawarts who are disillusioned with what the ANC has become. Their poster-power is lacking But they could draw a considerable following and give the ruling party a fright. And then of course, there is the possiblity of a coalition between them and the DA which is a fascinating thought. Then there is the IFP (Inkatha Freedom Party) "Vote IFP - Tried and Tested" Ho! When I see the Hon Buthelezi, nice man though he is, all I think of is the mess, corruption and backlog with ID books for which his party is responsible. 'Tried and tested' but found wanting - definitely. So, probably not gunna vote for you. The infuriating: "Working together we can do more" of the ANC who do not work together with anyone outside their own ranks. They ask for opinions and input, convene endless committees and task teams and do exactly as they please anyway. Some are irritating, like the ACDP's (African Christian Dempcratic Party) one that says: "Put your cross next to The Cross" as though voting for Kenneth Meshoe (wonderful man though he may be) equals voting for Jesus Which is horrifying manipulation in my book I have grave reservations about political parties calling themselves Christian but that is another story altogether. My favourite comes from the irrepressible Mz Patricia de Lille of the Independent Party. She is small, utterly fearless and a real thorn in the side of corrupt politicians whichever party they belong to. "Put criminals in jail, not in government" Gurgle! Maybe you have to be SAfrican to enjoy that one to the full. . . Nice one, Patricia! If the vote was for wit, you'd get mine.