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Election time is always an exciting period in South Africa.
We get to see politicians on our doorsteps – literally – pretend they care about citizens.
It is also the time when they are suddenly “part of the people” and “with the people” in their struggles.
They even go to some extremes – Metrorail rides; handing over stuff (including in one case a shack); picking up and kissing babies.
Fun times, indeed.
Another sign that it’s election season is on our streets. The normal green trees are overshadowed by election posters of the different parties trying to capture citizens’ attention.
There are red, yellow, blue, mustard, white and other colours. They are all around us; there is no escaping them.
Read: Desperate politicking, DA
In Gauteng busy intersections, off-ramps, on-ramps and byways are the prime spots for politicians to gain the attention of motorists as they navigate the congested traffic.
To get your posters on those spots, parties are guaranteed maximum exposure and their messages stand a chance of being widely read.
The posters glare out at us. Everywhere you turn there is Let’s Grow South Africa Together; Our land and jobs now; One South Africa for all; Slaan Terug, #Fix SA; Prosperity and dignity for all.
The electioneering period isn’t really exciting if there are no accusations and counterclaims of sabotage by those vying for the vote.
Reports of this party accused of tampering with the election material of another party, bribery, of wrong posters used, are all too common at this time.
And that’s part of the entertainment for citizens.
As one drives around busy Gauteng intersections, one realises that election posters are also prime material for other unexpected individuals – the beggars.
These are the people who entertain us in the four years and 10 months when politicians have forgotten us – only to remember us again when it is time to vote.
The beggars have become creative recently. Instead of just begging, they provide some entertain in form of dancing or some acts which often bring smiles to motorists’ faces.
Other forms of creativity are the jokes written on the boards which beggars carry at intersections.
And the back of political posters are ideal for beggars to write their jokes to entertain the grumpy motorists.
One would think any poster would do the job. But in my minimal research – three beggars – I found that some posters are better than others.
And the winning poster ... was that of Mosiuoa Lekota, the president of the Congress of the People (Cope).
This was an interesting observation. It was as if the beggars were sabotaging Cope’s chances for their own benefit.
A plea to the beggars to target the bigger and more visible parties might be warranted so that the smaller parties can at least have a chance to catch motorists’ eyes to remind them they still exist.
