‘I
felt emotional when I entered the booth, I knew my vote will bring a change’
says Levi Ratsoma
In South African society democracy has brought the cult of naked power. To a politician in
power, campaigning for votes, the readiness to deceive and manipulate voters
and the emptiness of promises made by political parties are the marks of a
political tiger. The sight of a political tiger incites a politician to a
reckless aggressiveness, arrogance and ignorance once a vulnerable voter has
cast his vote.
As the citizens of the
country marched to the electionbooths to exercise their democratic and
constitutional right by casting their votes during the fourth
national elections, voters are spoilt for choice. It has become a norm that in developing countries such as South Africa, the mushrooming of small
political parties should have a right of way. Within a short space of time the
South African political landscape has once again been greeted by new kids on the
block. The mushroomed parties include Agang SA of our country’s most scholarly
bent Mamphela Ramphele, Economic Freedom Fighters of a disgruntled former ANC
Youth league President, Julius Malema and the Patriotic Alliance of the most
revered sushi king and ladies’ gentleman, Kenny Kunene.
These highly contested
national elections which mark the coming of age of our democracy, spanning 20 years, remind us of where we come
from as the people of South Africa. On the day of elections I ventured to a
voting station in my neighborhood and talked to the voters. Talking to them it dawned on me that when politicians are voted into power, they develop a
profound mistrust of mankind. They do not prioritise the people who voted for
them neither do they deliver on their countless promises made during electioneering
campaigns.
Speaking to a 58-year old Kensignton
based domestic-general worker, Levi Ratsoma, who voted for the fourth time
since 1994, one gets contrasting feelings of disgruntlement and contentment
of people from the ground. “I crossed on the candidate whom I think can bring
about change. Democratic Alliance (DA) can create jobs. I voted for the African
National Congress (ANC) in the first two elections but in 2009 and 2014 I voted
for DA because the ANC failed to create jobs for our people.
This colonialism begins at
home, says Eric Hoffer an essayist and scholar. The fact that the liberation
movements in the colonial empires of Asia and Africa, which were initiated and
won by native intellectuals, have resulted not in democratic societies but in a
passage from colonialism by Europeans to colonialism by natives, Hoffer
emphasized. When one reflects on the build-up to democratic South Africa on its
20 years of freedom, one finds Hoffer’s views in resonance with the current
situation of the country.
“ANC failed us because it
only focuses on the interests of a few individuals. How on earth is it that
more R250m of tax payers’ money be spent on one man’s homestead?‘Ditshehlaketšona di sweregomoshomo’ –
Whites are the ones who create jobs,” he says excitedly. “I don’t think my
voting for DA will bring the reversal of apartheid because there will be an
opposition parties to oppose such drawback” concludes, Ratsoma.
On the other hand, I spoke
to a 34-year old Josiah Molema who was voting for the third time. His views
about casting his vote and voting for the ANC in particular, contrasted with
that of an old man. He felt that people, especially black South Africans were
being unfair to the movement of the people and ancestors. Molema thinks that
the liberation movement has realized its mistakes and deserves another chance
to be back in power. “For now I think that the ANC has seen the emergence of
small political opposition parties and they will know that they are being challenged.
I believe we should give them a chance and surely they will correct their
mistakes when they get back into office,” Molema commented.
Molema believes that the
youth of this country should start thinking about creating jobs themselves
instead of relying on government. There can be no denial of the fact that real
public service delivery protests and labour unrests facing the country today have
their root on unemployment, poor educational system, and lack of proper housing
and the most ignored important element of social structure adequate to full
participation in the economic system for everyone. People like Kaiser Matheta,
36, who works as a street vendor showed no interest in voting or registering to
vote.
In conclusion, I would like
to look at the voter-education system in this country. The Independent
Electoral Commission (IEC) has over the past two decades done little to fulfill
its responsibilities such as educating the citizens of this country on voting
matters. Contrary to the above-mentioned statement, also the political parties
are not doing enough either on educating the people on the significance of
practicing their constitutional right. To start electioneering or doing a
door-to-door campaigns only a few months before the elections actually
undermines the importance of voting and the potential voters.
According to Section 139 act
1(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the Electoral
Commission must run free and fair elections. I stand to differ that the
elections may not be free and fair when the voters know nothing or little about
their political rights. Many of our forefathers dedicated their lives to the
liberation of this country so that every citizen will have the equal political
rights among others. Furthermore, I am ofthe view that Section 192 was breached
because the public broadcaster, according to the constitution is to regulate
the broadcasting in the public interest, and to ensure fairness and a diversity
of views broadly representing South African society.
|
Comments
Post a Comment