Frustrated Knysna women spoil their votes

Frustrated by SA politics, two Knysna women registered to vote, queued at their voting stations, and then spoilt their ballots.

Candice Ludick and Alida Weldon felt their silent protests would send a strong message to political parties that they had lost faith in the system.

The women are part of the #NoFaithInTheSystem campaign, and said they aimed to expose the “corrupt nature of the [political] system”.

“I believe people with lived experiences of systemic failings should be heard. There is no one size fits all,” Weldon said.

Weldon, who was registered to vote at  a Knysna church, said she had written “no” across the regional, provincial and national ballot papers.

“It makes no difference who is in power, as it’s a greedy system.

“No-one can go into the existing political arena and remain honest. The system is corrupt,” she said.

A member of the #NoFaithInTheSystem campaign, Kekeletso Khena, said it was a social justice campaign which urged undecided and despondent residents to show up at the polls and vote “no”.

“This campaign is not for or against a particular political party.

“We are finding out as we continue to make our voices heard that many South Africans resonate with our stance,” Khena said.

Ludick, who also made the decision to spoil her ballots, said she had mixed feelings about voting because she did not feel democracy had created a society that worked for all.

“I’m not one of those people satisfied to remain silent when our fundamental human needs are not being met.”

Ludick said the system valued dominance and power, while they wanted to see a system that valued humanity, communities and the planet.

Meanwhile, in Plettenberg Bay, people with disabilities showed up in their numbers to vote.

Visually impaired Christiana Pretorius, 64, was disappointed there were no braille ballot papers.

“As the blind community, we are often neglected. But I did not anticipate someone would have to vote for me,” she said.

While Pretorius’s daughter-in-law assisted her to vote, she said many blind people felt uncomfortable having to reveal their vote to others.

Johannes Lukas, 78, who relies on a walking stick, said Wednesday’s vote had been a trip down memory lane.

For him, the elections would always be a reminder of the first democratic elections.

He recalled in 1994, standing in a long line while singing and dancing with his friend, ready to see change.

“For a while things changed for the better in Plett. We were happy. But then it stopped.

“I want to see young leaders who want to develop, promote and build SA,” he said.

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