Problem is, I really have no political party I feel strongly about, especially after all the drama we’ve seen over the past year or so. It is just too upsetting even thinking about the past blows from all sides.

The Americans have it pretty cool; campaigning is campaigning. Politicians are not scared of public debate and voters know exactly what they are going to get from each candidate. I wish things could be that simple around these parts!

I should be voting for someone who is going to address my concerns. Education, poverty, health, infrastructure, crime - those guns need to go, and so on. In my ancestral home in the Eastern Cape, Eskom unashamedly said if you can’t pay close to R5 000, you can just forget about having electricity. As a result only 4 houses have power; the rest of the people are in the dark!

I looked at Americans with envy as they queued up in the cold, in the early hours of the morning, waiting to see their first black president sworn in. Would I not just love to be in a magical moment such as that one! But wait, who could I possibly freeze my butt for in South Africa? There was a reason why politics never interested me. Right now I really cannot afford to be ignorant; I still maintain that this and the fact that I have a social responsibility as a South African citizen to make my mark are probably the only reasons I will drag myself out of bed to queue up and vote.

You’re probably wondering why I am willing to do this. So am I.

My aunt raised a valid point in a discussion I had with family over the weekend. She was saying the only people she would love to see in parliament are not into politics. I wonder why? I suggested we gather together all the people we know who could be brilliant in actually implementing policy - people who would not be interested in fat bank accounts, big stylish cars and mansions - and start a political party.

It was just a joke of course. But really, is it too hard to stay clear of corruption and actually do the job you said you would do? A lot has been done in South Africa; I am not disputing that but right now so much more still needs to be done, just looking at the administration side alone.

I am still waiting for a government official to respond to an email (and endless calls before that) I sent three weeks ago. I have pretty much given up at this point.

Beware the trap. What guarantee is there that if we had a different party in power we will not experience the same problems?

I just need a bit of hope, that’s all. It is not election month yet and miracles have been known to happen.