Universal adult suffrage on a common voters roll is one of the foundational values of our entire constitutional order. The achievement of the franchise has historically been important both for the acquisition of the rights of full and effective citizenship by all South Africans regardless of race, and for the accomplishment of an all-embracing nationhood. The universality of the franchise is important not only for nationhood and democracy. The vote of each and every citizen is a badge of dignity and of personhood. Quite literally, it says that everybody counts. In a country of great disparities of wealth and power it declares that whoever we are, whether rich or poor, exalted or disgraced, we all belong to the same democratic South African nation; that our destinies are intertwined in a single interactive polity.
Some examples of what judges would have had to endure if they had attended the “Leadership Conference”, which they were urged to attend by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng. All I can say is that I am glad I did not have to attend this event. Apart from the lack of fashion sense displayed by the speakers, I would have felt pretty insulted for being sold this quackery and having had to PAY to attend to listen to it.
First up, “Dr” David Molapo:
Second up, “Dr” John Maxwell