Best Of…Comments, Criticisms & Videos from SA Overseas Voting Day
It was a huge day for South Africans around the world on Wednesday 30 April 2014 when the country’s expats had their turn to vote for South Africa. For many it was an emotional experience that even touched the people back home. Here is a collection of just some of the comments, pictures and videos […]
It was a huge day for South Africans around the world on Wednesday 30 April 2014 when the country’s expats had their turn to vote for South Africa. For many it was an emotional experience that even touched the people back home.
Here is a collection of just some of the comments, pictures and videos (scroll down to view) from this awesome day:
WeAreBetterTogether – The Tears, Pride & Praise
Voting in Berne, Switzerland. No queues, friendly & helpful staff, new friends made! and a spontaneous day spent enjoying the Capital of Switzerland.
After seeing some of the voting photos shared on SAPeople’s facebook page, here are some of the reactions:
Tshepo Ramoshaba:
“Wow, that’s awesome… Let’s go and vote guys [in South Africa]. We love our beautiful country, it deserves to be in good hands.”
Carolyn Van Der Toorn:
“Feeling so proud to be South African…hope all the effort shown around the world today is able to make a difference to the final outcome of the elections. Thanks all ex-pats who voted today.”
Leah Rudman:
“I don’t think I could be any prouder!! The loyalty from the ones living overseas and then the gratitude from the ones living at home!! #wearebettertogether”
“Wow! My heart swells, when I see this! I worked overseas for 40 years, but returned to my beloved country when I decided to stop my work.”
Warren Edouard-Betsy:
“No matter what party we support we are all South Africans first. This is the Madiba legacy. I am sure no matter where you put your cross, he would be proud of everyone who exercised their right to vote. We all look at things differently but that’s the magic of the rainbow nation – all those colours together make something awesomely special…you are all awesome…”
The Expat Experience
To all those who were surprised by the great effort many South African expats made in order to vote, Mss Gail explained:
“It’s because contrary to what many people think and say about Expats…South Africa and her People are ALWAYS at the Forefront of many decisions made, and we only want the best for Our Beloved South Africa! #Love South Africa Unconditionally.Com.”
The experience of voting, she said, was “Awesome. I had cold shivers and was very nostalgic and missed home terribly too! Still Buzzing.”
Nikki Barnfather travelled from Jupiter, Florida to Washington D.C. in the USA by plane, metro bus and rail to make her mark…
After voting, she wrote:
“Thank you for sharing all the wonderful photos everyone took…Often I have felt quite lonely here in the US, missing South Africa. It’s not easy being an expat, as people back home hold a lot of negativity toward you, and at the same time, people here don’t understand the life and values you’ve developed from being in South Africa.
“It’s also difficult when you hold very mixed feelings about living in a different country and not back home in South Africa, something I think very few South Africans back home understand or appreciate.
“It was good to know that no matter who we all voted for, there were over 20 000 other expats around the world who were as passionate as I am and still voted, despite being away from home for whatever reason.
“I also got to lay flowers down at the Mandela statue in Washington which was an incredibly emotional day for me, as I had found it very dislocating being out of the country when Madiba passed. It was healing to be able to physically pay my respects as well.
“It was wonderful to know that there were so many other Saffers who felt it was important to travel far distances to make their mark.
“I’m proud to be South African…no one can take that away from me.”
Citizenship Chaos
Not all (former) citizens were happy.
Earl Stevenson wrote:
“It would have been nice to acknowledge the tens of thousands of expats who were stripped/deprived of their South African citizenship by not first obtaining an Exemption permission letter from Home Affairs prior to obtaining dual citizenship . Unfortunately, Home Affairs never publicized nor did any SA passport note this requirement. It’s a complete reversal of the SA Consitution that states that no one born in SA may be deprived of citizenship, but Home Affairs does this every day and ten of thousands of expats have been stripped of their SA citizenship. Nice to have a shout out to those who have been deprived by Home Affairs of their citizenship.”
All the Proof…but No Vote Allowed
And some citizens were outraged when they stood in the queue for hours…only to then be deprived of their right to vote.
Lorraine Phillips:
“I stood there with great excitement and so Proud to be South African! Can you imagine my face when I was told “sorry, you can’t Vote”! What!? was my outcry!
“Ushered into a Board Room in SA House to be greeted by another 17 people. They had the right documentation. They had proof. They had the VEC10 form. They had Emails…
“But their name just was not put in the Book. Did someone fall asleep at there DESK? Well a riot almost broke out. Phew, a feisty young lady! Right she was. Her Constitutional Right had been taken from her! Fraud is the only word that springs to mind.
“Sooooo to all of you who got the chance Well done. Let’s fight the fight. South Africa is a Country worth fighting for x.”
That Vexing VEC10 Form
Some Embassy staff around the world had incorrectly informed those who registered that they didn’t need to do anything else…so many were totally unaware of the compulsory requirement for expats to submit an online VEC10 form in early March, notifying the IEC of their intention to vote abroad.
Michele Anderson Postma:
“It was so disheartening to see a few would-be voters at Trafalgar Square, London, being told they had not done whatever it was that they should have [usually not having submitted the VEC10 form], and being told they were not able to vote.
“When elections only come around every 4 years and there is a will on their part to do it away from home surely if they can identify themselves properly that should be enough??”
Never Give Up
Some Embassies were human about the whole VEC10 fiasco:
Leonie B-T wrote:
“A friend of mine in Dubai who was told his VEC10 registration was declined went along anyway to try to vote, and they allowed him to. They said it was an admin error and he could go ahead and vote anyway. It’s interesting – considering how many people possibly stayed away due to being declined, and could have been allowed to vote if they had gone with their IDs in hand on the day…”
Seriously…Never Give Up…
Some Embassy staff were even human about expired passports!
Bronwyn Mc Donald Pretorius:
“The staff at the South African High Commission in Canberra, Australia were excellent! My husband was registered to vote, but could not vote because his passport had expired. They allowed us to make an application for a temporary passport! We did our bit (photos, money order etc) and they did their bit (print a temporary passport while we waited). It all took a bit of time but they were so patient and we were so thankful. Go SAHC Canberra!!”
Local is Lekker, Boerie Rolls and Everybody Loves Bangkok
One of the perks of the day for many expats was getting to meet other South Africans in their country…and being offered South African food. Munich had Marie biscuits decorated with the South African flag! Others had boerewors rolls, and Bangkok had one of the friendliest Ambassadors and SA food for everyone.
Paul Heymans (from SAinBangkok FB page):
“It was a great turnout in Bangkok and we were even greeted with koeksusters and melktert!!”
“We voted at the Bangkok embassy at 7pm. The ambassador is a lovely lady (middle front with my daughter on her lap).”
Thumbs Up for Expats!
Every expat who voted had their thumb stamped with indelible ink as a precaution to prevent them voting again.
Anne McEvedy:
“It was an emotional day for me…and very nostalgic. I missed home, loved the buzz…and all the ” bruised ” looking thumbs.”
An Expat Right or Wrong?
Most locals were blown away by the lingering patriotism and the long journeys expats were willing to take to get to voting stations. But not all agreed. Clive Forbes was just one (there were others too).
Clive Forbes:
“My take on this is if you ditched your country for whatever reason, you ditched your right to vote. You’re not affected by the changes of the people you voted for, the loyal citizens are.”
Many responded. This is what Susan Bentley Llewellyn wrote:
“Clive do you really believe that because someone cannot get a job here and so goes to another country to work so he can feed his family, that he has “ditched” his country?
“You do not feel the longing in his heart to be back home, you don’t hear him tell his Mom every week how hard he is saving so he can return and start his own business. Clive you have obviously had it very easy. Stop judging others.”
Just Asking
Nobody could make sense of Australia. In a country with so many expats, over 30,000 of whom apparently live in Perth, Canberra – which has the least number of expats of all major Australian cities – contained the one and only designated voting station.
Joan Cheetham:
“So mark me confused. If Australia is as big as the USA; and Sydney is 281 kms from Canberra; Melbourne is 652 kms; Adelaide is 1,160 kms; Brisbane is 1,252 kms; and Perth is 3,723 kms away from Canberra – a plus/minus four hour flight flight away from Sydney plus extra time travelling to Canberra – then why was there only one Voting Station in Australia…and that voting station was Canberra? ………… Just asking…”
You Can’t Keep Us Away
But no matter what the distance, it was no deterrent for many expats who travelled by plane, train or vehicle across borders and oceans to get to their nearest voting station.
Debbie Knezovich sent in the following photos with this message:
“We travelled 10 hours from Split, Croatia to make a difference. It’s a privilege to be able to vote.”
London Calling
Expat John Versfeld was the first in line at South Africa House in Trafalgar Square, London (the only voting station in the whole of the UK). He travelled from Manchester the night before and managed to be first in the queue in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
In total John travelled 1,000 km in order to vote…because it required two return trips from Manchester to London – first to register in person (which was compulsory for any expat who wasn’t already on the voters’ roll), and then to vote in person.
John has subsequently uploaded a video with a selection of images of the voting in London, as well as “some images of South Africa to make those overseas homesick”. It also includes video footage at the end that captures the buzz in London’s famous Trafalgar Square as South Africa expats took over and formed a Mexican Wave.
John’s hope is that “if this video inspires only one person to vote who would not have otherwise voted, I will be happy!”
Watch the Video of South African’s Voting in London 30/04/14.
Back to Budapest…
South African expat Eben van Ellewee has also put together a short video of his journey (with his wife and babies) to vote at the South African Embassy in Budapest, Hungary. His message to all those back home is:
“Please exercise your right to vote when the time comes. After all: It only takes good people to sit and do nothing, and evil will succeed. Go vote with your head.”
Watch the Video: People of South Africa: Now It’s Your Turn
And Finally to South Africa…
Lindiwe Ngema said it best when she wrote on SAPeople’s facebook page, on Wednesday:
“Standing ovation from me. Thank you guys. You Rock! I’m still trying to convince my daughter and nieces to vote and make a difference. That’s why I shared most of your posts to let them see how important your vote is, your voice. We came a long way to give up now.
“Next wednesday – our turn to get up early and do likewise.”
