The Point's thumb looks like it's been in a fight with an angry koki pen. The Point applauds like-minded comrades who shuffled the trenches and battled the indelible ink and shaky IEC booths in the name of democracy.

The Point is also mildly curious about whether or not anyone else actually looked at the ballot sheet. Did you quickly scan the sheet, find Msholozi's smiling face and make your bold X? Or did you — despite the pressure of bored and hungry voters across the cardboard divide — take your time and peruse the options?

Did you notice that the New Vision Party has an eye as its logo? Did you wonder what the 'A' stood for in the A Party? Did you question the sensibility of a party which only appeals to half the population (Women Forward)? Did you notice the guy called PAM? And did it bother you that the Great Kongress of South Africa used a 'K' instead of a 'C'?

Somebody did. Yesterday morning, after a mere two million votes had been tallied, the A Party already had 365 votes. That's like a whole Facebook friends list. Well, okay, not mine. But someone who's like popular and stuff.

Like this guy.

NANDO'S 'JULIUS'

Facebook friend tally: 711.

Julius' buddies in the ANCYL are pretty loyal. While the word 'kill' has not, as yet, been mentioned, the words 'military action' have been bandied about in reaction to the latest Nando's advert.

"We are fully aware that the advertisement is intended at mocking the president of the ANCYL, and in a racist fashion portrays political leaders as Cartoons," said the ANCYL.

"If Nando's does not withdraw the adverts, the ANCYL will mobilise the people of South Africa to take militant action against Nando's and anything associated with Nando's."

Could this herald the end of fast food in South Africa? Will it involve a food fight? Will the ANCYL ever face disciplinary/legal action for inciting/threatening violence?

Answer to all of the above: probably not.

Nando's marketing manager Sylvester Chauke response was, well, not entirely truthful: "Our advertisements are not a stab at Julius Malema at all. (cough, cough) What is it that Nando's said in the advert that is negative about him? … If only I could have an answer to that."

Erm… I reckon most South Africans who can do basic arithmetic could answer that question. And it doesn't have a whole lot to do with 'Cartoons'.

The man in question wasn't too upset about the advert:

"I have commissioned lawyers to look into the whole thing. I want to see if I can negotiate a share of my royalties from their profits."

Until his buddies in the ANCYL showed him the error of his ways:

"I now fully support the decision of the ANCYL for Nando's to withdraw the advertisements with immediate effect. It undermines me, my organisation and the African political leadership. If it was innocent as they claim why did they not use a white person, somebody like Helen Zille?"

I suspect it has something to do with her matric maths results.

Friends: 4052.

Two days before the elections, Msholozi proved his irrefutable skills as a negotiator when he calmed irate taxi drivers.

Grievance of the taxi industry: "For 14 years with a thorn in our flesh we have been limping, not embracing the fruits of democracy… we don't want handouts, all we want is to protect that which we started," said SA National Taxi Council president Andrew Mthembu.

Overlook the obvious flaws in that argument and focus on JZ's spectacular response.

"I'm proposing that we hold horses for now and we come back (read: after you've voted for me in the election)… if that's agreed then let's get back to business."

And then, from an appeased industry: "Msholozi understands the pain of the people because he is with the people".

Just not so much with the people that he actually needs to use public transport. Or a single-car convoy. Or cars which cost less than four or five RDP houses.

The secret of Zuma's negotiating prowess can, perhaps, be found in ANCWL's secretary general Sisisi Tolashe's account of the league's campaign activities.

"They were blaming the ANC and the government for their suffering. They were very angry and asked us why they should vote. We held discussions with them until we reached an agreement that they will go and vote for the ANC."

Hmm... I must try that next time I'm looking for a raise.

THE MAYOR (friends: 16 452)

Allan Boesak (friends: 221) has a love-hate relationship with Helen Zille. Mostly he just hates her. His latest anti-DA rant sounded pretty similar to last week's anti-DA rant. Yes, the words 'leafy suburbs' were used.

"A lack of service delivery, rampant crime and in some areas one hasn’t enough digits to count the potholes. Visit Ravensmead, Khayelitsha, and alphabet soup of suburbs outside the leafy DA areas; even the DA stronghold of Mitchell's Plain. Can you see a DA difference? I can't."

But then, inexplicably, he invited the mayor to join Cope.

"Helen's intentions and her gravitas as a leader could have been a vehicle for true change, but she is in the wrong party. If Helen truly has the courage of her personal conviction, surely her political home is in Cope, and we will welcome her."

Slightly less likely to welcome her are the ID's Patricia de Lille (friends: 45) and the ANC's Gwede Mantashe.

"The DA's problem is that they still have that baasskap mentality. If you stand up according to your rights and the Constitution, stand up for the people you represent, then they take it as an affront," said Patricia de Lille.

And, after declaring that Helen Zille has "gone berserk", Mantashe said: "when Zille runs mad like that it works for the ANC".

He then went on to say: "We don't talk about people, we talk about policies".

Right.

I suspect some people are just a tiny bit jealous that Helen has more Facebook friends.

LIKE…DUH!

Politicians are just as likely to say stupid things in the week of an election as they are at any other time of the year. First up: a story sum for Julius Malema.

"The mathematics are simple: the more DA voters turn out relative to ANC voters, the better our chances are of stopping Jacob Zuma from getting the two-thirds majority he needs to change the Constitution," said Helen Zille.

Some wise words from ANC NEC member Nomvula Mokonyane: "The ANC is an army that never goes to battle with the intention to lose."

With minds like that, it is surprising the ANC goes into battle at all.

YFM DJ Sbu Leope's explanation after he was suspended for appearing alongside Zuma at a rally: "I was not aware that I was on TV, let alone standing next to Jacob Zuma, until people started calling me."

That singing dancing guy was Msholozi? Those were his bodyguards? No way!

And finally, a word from a guy who has 11 657 Facebook buddies, former president Thabo Mbeki: "I think the future of our country depends, in part, on people voting according to their conscience."

Wouldn't you love to know where that X went.

What has The Point missed? Share your favourite quote from the week…

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