I came, I saw..I voted

The deed is done. The vote is cast. In my case, as you know, the process involved a round trip of 3000km. But it was worth it - a purple paint-stained left thumb a reminder that I am one of perhaps 16000 people that has already voted in the April 2009 election. If the counting was to be done today, the ANC would lose hands down, that's a given. The ANC has few friends outside the country.

And no, I did not change my mind when I saw buck-tooth showerhead looking back at me on the ballot paper.

The whole experience was amazing. No really folks. Next time, do it. I have voted in every national and municipal election since I was of age and my ID booklet is stamped to blazes with evidence of referendums and elections past. Previously, this just entailed driving down the road to the nearest school to cast my vote. I hope it will be so the next time. It would be cheaper. In the last election, it was a sombre affair. The hall was quiet, we were the only people at that time, we did our thang and we were out ten minutes later. An empty experience.

This time was different. We flew into Canberra from Sydney in the morning, hired a car and set off towards the South African High Commission in Perth Street. Since wifey’s map reading skills are not the greatest we got lost of course. But it was okay because Canberra can be circled in 20 minutes (I exaggerate a lot). A picturesque gorgeous little city. You could drive up and down each street and find the embassy by process of elimination if you had the time. And there's no effing way I was going to ask for directions.

The consulate is located in a particularly beautiful part of Canberra where the impressive Parliament House of Australia with the most enormous Australian flag can be seen in the distance. Our neighbours are the Yankees with their typical humongous complex. It takes up a whole block. I jokingly said to my wife, the SA embassy should be easy to find. Just look out for electric fencing, burglar proofing and the ADT signboard, har har.

So there we were, about to cast our vote in a foreign country and it was surreal. We’d heard that of the 80000 people that applied, only 16000 got the thumbs up. Were we (my wife and I) to be one of those approved? Was this whole five day trip involving three cities a waste?

First off, I must congratulate the folks at the High Commission. The voting procedure was very well planned and although the wait was a little longer than we’ve previously experienced (bar 1994 – seven hours that was) we didn’t mind because we shared the long queues in the hallway with our peeps. It was wonderful to see so many South Africans - strangers a few minutes earlier - conversing with each other in die goeie ou taal nogal while they waited their turn. One unfortunate woman was turned away because she did not have her green ID booklet even though she had a passport and her ID number. Her husband was ok. He was allowed to proceed. We were okay too.

So when it became my turn to scribble my choice on the ballot paper, afterwards I had to place the paper in a small envelope, seal it, then put that small envelope in a larger envelope with my details on the front and seal that. The envelope then went into the ballot box. The envelopes are not opened until April 22nd, supposedly.

That was it. The deed was done. I know my little vote has no real effect in the grand scheme of things and I know it will be cancelled by another six ANC voters but this effort by us expats is a symbolic gesture and a confirmation of support for you Saffas in South Africa - something that says we care about you, that we will stand up and be counted when the time comes.

Please play your part. Get to the booths on April 22nd, collect your friends, family members and take them to the booths. Make this election count and let's try and make a difference.