A South African politician tragically dies while walking down the street in Pretoria. His soul arrives at the gates of heaven, where Saint Peter greets him.
Saint Peter: “Welcome to heaven. Before you settle in, there’s a small issue. We rarely get politicians here, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”
Politician: “No problem, just let me in.”
Saint Peter: “I’m afraid we have rules. You’ll have to spend one day in hell and one day in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”
Politician: “Really? I’m sure I want heaven.”
Saint Peter: “Sorry, no exceptions.”
First, he goes to hell. The elevator doors open and he finds himself on a luxurious golf course in Cape Town. The clubhouse overlooks Table Mountain. All his political friends are there, well dressed and celebrating. They play golf, feast on lobster, caviar, and local wine, and laugh with the devil — who’s surprisingly friendly and telling jokes. Before he knows it, the day is over. Everyone waves goodbye as the elevator rises.
Next, he spends a day in heaven. He wanders among peaceful clouds, enjoying quiet, wholesome activities. Angels sing and play the harp, and everything is calm and serene.
After 24 hours, Saint Peter returns.
Saint Peter: “Well, you’ve spent a day in hell and a day in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”
The politician thinks and says, “Heaven was nice, but I think I’ll go back to hell.”
He returns to hell. This time the gates open to a completely different scene. Garbage litters the streets, potholes are everywhere, water cuts are happening, electricity is out, and public transport is chaotic. His friends are struggling, dressed in worn-out clothes, trying to fix the mess.
The devil puts an arm around him and says with a grin:
Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted. Now you know how South Africans feel.
