Former National Director of Public Prosecutions, Vusi Pikoli is the latest to disagree with former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasril’s notion that South Africans should spoil their vote in the May 7th election.
Pikoli was speaking during a dialogue with young people at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth.
It was hosted by the Black Leaders Association and Inkulu-Free-Heid, a non-partisan organisation.
Pikoli admitted that indeed South Africa is a better country than it was in 1994, but says there are troublesome signs to our democracy.
When you plant a tree you plant it not with assurance that you will enjoy its shade but know that someone else will enjoy the shade of that tree
He says a cross on the ballot paper is only the first step of a responsible citizen.
“Of course the cross on its own is not enough because what you want then is to make sure that the people you put into power will realise all those dreams that have yet to be fulfilled and to be able to do that, there needs to be a leadership that has integrity…not there for itself but a servant of its people. It’s a sign of troublesome times when veterans like Ronnie Kasrils, ANC commander and comrade Noziwe calling people to spoil their ballots and vote for any other party other than the ANC.”
Pikoli also criticised government for the death of miners in Marikana, saying their persistence in the strike is a fight for a better tomorrow.
“The workers in the platinum belt are losing about R6.2 billion thus far because of the strike. Now they will never be able to get that money back. But they do that with the belief that it’s not for them, but a future generation. When you plant a tree you plant it not with assurance that you will enjoy its shade but know that someone else will enjoy the shade of that tree.”
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