Let us unite to save our democracy from uncaring, greedy politicians and parties

THE 200-plus registered political parties on municipal level and provincially may be signaling the strength of our democracy, but offer nothing for the voter, if the recent Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) research is anything to go by. 

The report presented during a recent Portfolio Committees on Home Affairs and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs briefing paints a grim picture for the future of South Africa’s democracy. 

It shows that under half of eligible voters intend to participate in the upcoming 2026 local government elections.

Secondly most voters choose to abstain in elections because they are dissatisfied with democracy. 

Alarmingly is deputy electoral officer Masego Sheburi’s remarks that: “There is an increase in the number of persons who report to be receptive to forms of autocratic rule. In other words, not only are our people dissatisfied with democracy, but they are open to accepting autocracy or even dictatorships if their personal circumstances will change under that rule.”

To say this development is a sad indictment of the country’s political parties would be an understatement.

It confirms that those parties in charge of our municipalities are either clueless of the needs of the people or are deliberately ignoring the voters that put them in power. 

It also signals that the number of hung municipalities is expected to increase after next year’s crucial local government elections. That would spell disaster for service delivery. The instability that comes with coalition governments has only served to worsen the situation for most hung municipalities.

Only because our politicians are more interested in enriching themselves from the public purse while on the ground making the democratic project irrelevant as reflected by the IEC.

That is evidenced by potholed roads,  the piling rubbish on the streets, the burst sewer pipes that go for days without being repaired and by the unreliable water supply in those municipalities that are lucky enough to have running water.  

We as a country cannot afford to fail the countless leaders who paid the price fighting apartheid for this democracy.

Giving up on democracy would be betraying their sacrifices. By not voting, we are allowing these parties to do as they please. Let the will of the people prevail.

CAPE TIMES