You are free to vote for whomever WE want you to.

YOU are free to vote for whomever WE want you to.

This is the impression that is given when we look at what is currently happening within the ANC. There are protests taking place in no less than 60 ANC branches across South Africa over the selection process of candidates who will be running in the local municipal elections. Protesters are lodging complaints at the ANC headquarters because the candidates which they have chosen are being over-looked and those that are being chosen seem to have ties with current ANC high ranking officials. The people are lodging complaints and have yet not obtained a response to justify why these candidates were chosen.

This story has made headlines and has simply just faded away. I would like to bring this up because this links to what I have been asking myself for a while.

How free and fair is our elections?

If we look at something like this we realize that we are being brainwashed by the illusion of "living free". We believe and it is driven into our heads that we have a choice in how our country is being run. The only influence we have is that of putting a party into power. The rest is out of our hands. Yet, we seem to be the ones who bear the brunt all the hardships that take place. We the ones who have to pay more for food, pay more taxes, put up with poor service delivery, etc.

So why is it so easy for us to be manipulated like this?

It is because we choose to be "sheep" We choose to run around in a field, in a group, making a noise. But if we are given the opportunity to stand alone. We freeze and become unresponsive. This is why it is so easy to take advantage of us, because if we start to make a noise, all that has to be done is to have us separated.

It is about time that we start looking at what is happening around us. What our response would be if we found ourselves in testing situations. We should consider coming up with solutions instead of only acknowledging problems. We should take a stand, question and not just accept what is being said. We should not be afraid to take a stand, even though it means that we will be standing alone.

If we can start doing this, we will start being responsible and accountable for achieving a better life for all.