Spoiling votes spoils a democracy rather than improving it

Former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils and former deputy health minister Nosizwe Madlala-Routledge have told the electorate to "vote no".

Their reason is that they feel the ANC has deviated from its past convictions.

Though former leaders of the ANC have every right to choose which direction to take come the election, it is important that we interrogate their statements.

The problem South Africa faces is not Jacob Zuma, but the policies the ruling party is following.

Zuma is not alone in the cabinet and does not formulate policy alone. What Kasrils and other former ANC officials who are disgruntled with Zuma fail to comprehend is: Nothing will change, even if Zuma is not there.

It is time South Africans had a honest conversation about the electoral system. It does not help not to vote, or spoil one's ballot paper. We will still have the electoral system that gave us Zuma.

If we change the system, we will be in a better position to choose the kind of leadership we want.

We are told by Kasrils and Madlala-Routledge that we can vote for smaller parties other than the ANC and the DA.

If the plan is to punish the ANC, the "vote no" campaign is seriously missing the mark.

What are we to gain other than spoilt ballots?

It is a right not to vote and it is a right to spoil your vote, but the history of this country demands that we act in a manner that promotes progress.

Kasrils's call to vote "no" should be scrutinised and not taken at face value.

Those who will be casting their vote for the first time should be educated about democracy and the responsibility that accompanies it.

We cannot just call for a "no vote" and expect that young minds will take this democracy seriously.

It is better to change the electoral system. Let us interrogate the system we currently have and change it for the better.