A PERENNIAL voter's lament, of course not without basis, is that politicians remember their constituencies only when elections are around the corner.

A PERENNIAL voter's lament, of course not without basis, is that politicians remember their constituencies only when elections are around the corner.

But, as witnessed in the last general election, this will be a thing of the past since voters have seen through the ruse of the whole baby-kissing charade.

They are now uncompromisingly demanding their pound of flesh in exchange for the vote.

So it is not surprising that the ANC is cracking the whip among its MPs, demanding that they roll up their sleeves and do constituency work.

While this new-found energy within the ANC can be attributed to pressure derived from growing opposition, it is nonetheless a welcome step that should help deepen our democracy in the long term.