Don't even think of complaining about the state of our country unless you vote.

Don't even think of complaining about the state of our country unless you vote.

We sacrificed too much to indulge the common sentiment from the 60s: don't vote, it only encourages them.

For as even the anarchists from those times found, the less-quoted last line of the joke was simply wrong: just ignore them and maybe they'll go away.

Recent events in South Africa prove that's not how politicians operate.

As in marriage, for better or for worse, we are stuck with politicians. In a democracy they are the ones we charge with helping us sort out the bigger issues in our common lives.

So if you disapprove of the way the country is being run, head to your local voting station when elections roll around early next year and cast your vote. Give them your vote if you approve.

But you will be rendered voiceless unless you register as a voter. Best way to do that is to find the voting station in the ward you live in and go there this weekend with ID book in hand.

The good folks from the Independent Electoral Commission won't consider putting you on the roll unless you rock up with a bar-coded ID book.

Sadly, you may find it difficult to check your details on the IEC's website - it was suprisingly not working properly yesterday.