The right to vote for the government of your choice is one of the fundamental rights of every citizen of South Africa, but it is very important to protect yourself during election time.
Here are some handy tips to keep you out of trouble at the polls:
• Rather do not debate politics in public. If you support a particular political party and there is an argument about another political party, then it is important that you do not join in. This will prevent you becoming involved in a fight.
• Do not criticise any politician, because if you do, you might be encouraging someone who may want to cause harm.
• Do not wear political campaign uniforms/ clothing in public. This is so that you do not attract the attention of opposition party members who may be irritated by it. More often than not, these party members are all out to injure others.
• Do not disclose the party you are going to vote for.
• If you want to hang out with friends, ensure that it is safe to do so. It has to be in a non-violent area, or an area that is less prone to violence.
• Do not move about with expensive gadgets. This way, if you run into a scoundrel who wants to rob you, you’ll have nothing of value for him to take.
• Have your doctor’s number handy. If you do not have a medical person’s details handy, then you may want to know why you need to do this. The reason is simple – so that you can call for help if you need it during the election.
