'Vote ANC or else'

[semiautomatix]

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has urged a group of villagers from Limpopo to approach the police after their chief ordered them to vote for the African National Congress (ANC) or "face his wrath".

"This is my land. The tea plantations, the grass and the mountains are mine. I therefore instruct all my subjects to vote for the ANC. You media people and journalists can write what you want about me, I don't care. I say vote for the ANC," said Tshivhase.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3086&art_id=nw20090422133840619C801021

I hope someone educated these people that their vote is secret and the chief has no way of knowing who they voted for. This kind of thing needs to be taught to voters, definitely within the next 5 years!

 

[davemc]

Is this proof that the IEC is powerless?
Why don't they have a path of action against the man?

 

[smokey]

Bikoz hi iz chif

 

[ToxicBunny]

Interesting... is it HIS land.. or is it the communities land?

 

[smokey]

His land - there are no communities in a feudal system AFAIK...

 

[semiautomatix]

Interesting... is it HIS land.. or is it the communities land?

Regardless it is not HIS country, but everyone who lives in it!

 

[ToxicBunny]

tim : I agree with you on that sentiment...

BUT, if its the communities land and not HIS... then he needs to be put in his place by his "subjects"

smokey : If the communities name is on the deeds for the land.. then its not his. We don't live in a feudal country.

 

[davemc]

Traditional leaders need the ANC to hold onto their power, and the ANC likes having them around to help control our citizens. But, the citizens are learning that the perks given to the Traditional leaders come at a price.

 

[Serqet]

I really don't feel the subjects would go against their chief Toxicbunny even if they thought he was wrong and it was their land as well as his. The chief is to be respected regardless. It's just how it is.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Oh I know.. I've grown up around traditional leaders and their communities...

Its just starting to get to the point that the subjects need to learn we've moved beyond having rulers who get obeyed... its now the subjects who get obeyed...

 

[Serqet]

I hope it does reach that point. It would empower people around the country and would be wonderful for society as a whole.

 

[smokey]

TB: The deed would most probably be put on the name of the chief and handed down to his descendants by way primogeniture. Whether we live in a socialist dictatorship, or a democratic utopia it matters not. The fact is that the traditionalists got their say early on and made life better for themselves.

Now, I'm not claiming an intimate knowledge of traditional law and how it is converted to common law etc, all I am saying is that feudalism (which is essentially what the whole chief/tribe scenario is) doesn't make any space for communities as such, only groups of people subservient to a higher (legal) power. Prove me wrong with links and then we can talk about the merits/demerits of such a system or allowing such a system to go on in these times.