South Africa Votes

This election will define the future of South Africa. The country has struggled to get out of the shadow of the apartheid for the past 14 years. But with the aging of the godfather of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, it seems like the country may be heading the way of most other African nations - corruption, political strong-handing, puppet democracy and eventual instability.

Thabo Mbeki was a respectable leader for South Africa who was elected by the people. While he was president (and leader of the ANC) Jacob Zuma was being tried for corruption. Somehow Zuma got the charges against him dropped. Then a young girl announced Zuma raped her. Many people began to question his morals and the rape trial made international headlines. Miraculously, Zuma managed to get those charges dropped too. The straw on the camel's back came when Thabo Mbeki brought new charges of corruption against Zuma.

In my opinion, Mbeki was doing South Africa a favor by trying to show that trials cannot be bought or influenced based on a person's status. I think he brought the charges to make an example of Zuma and restore faith in South Africa but it backfired on him. Zuma claimed Mbeki brought the charges for political reasons because Zuma was going to run against him for head of the ANC. And the day South Africans bought that line was the day that will foretell South Africa following Zimbabwe into political corruption.

Mbeki knew he had been elected fairly by the people and was not willing to soil his reputation and have people think he brought the charges in order to keep his position. So he stepped down. Without a fight, without a scene, he quickly resigned and walked away with dignity. He will be remembered as a great leader who really loved his country.

Zuma, on the other hand, is a crook. If his abilities to make cases against him "go away" is any indication of his presidency, South Africa is in for a downward spiral that they will not even see until it is way too late.

The elections are today and, while it seems unfathomable, the people are faced with having to leave behind Mandela's mangled party in order to preserve everything he fought for.