Forget new political party; organised civic activism is needed
JASON Felix posed a question in Thursday’s Cape Argus, as to whether space existed for a new party. He noted that voters were “disgusted and outraged by the corruption, looting, lies and low moral values of politicians across the spectrum and, therefore, might be open to voting for a new party come next year”.
He cited Ralph Mathekga, a political analyst at UWC, who concluded that the big three didn’t offer much.
The DA still had issues of racism to resolve. The ANC, on the other hand, was mired in corruption and as for the EFF, they were happy to shout at Zuma to pay back the money, but cried foul and retaliated when the fingers were pointed at them. Their other big problem was that they wanted “economic freedom for the poor, but live lavish lifestyles with Gucci clothes”.
Professor Amanda Gouws, at Stellenbosch University also felt that the ANC, the DA and the EFF were “all a disgrace, with very little to offer South Africans”.
She felt that there was space for a new party,
If truth be told, in as much as the big three offer no hope for negotiating the future successfully, the real problem lies with the Closed List PR system.
It was only meant to be used in 1994 and replaced thereafter. It is a system that serves the interest of politicians to the detriment of voters. It facilitates the creation of patronage networks and helps in the destruction of state institutions. It is, moreover, the enemy of transparency and the key suppressor of accountability.
Having another party, therefore, will not help until the root cause of our political and economic woes is properly dealt with. I studied politics at a university level and have been a beneficiary of the Closed List PR system. I am in a perfect position, therefore, to say that the longer the Closed List system lingers – our country will lurch from crisis to crisis.
Despairing at how things were going, I teamed up with a few other concerned citizens to encourage voters to unite, in a non-partisan manner, to make common cause. In the US, there is such a common cause formation, created by voters to promote their interest. When we introduced Vuka Voter on Facebook two weeks ago, our intention was to get support from two million people at least in order to bring about an equilibrium in the power equation.
It is not another political party that is needed. It is organised civic activism that we need to compel politicians to govern responsively, honestly, competently and in the spirit of the constitution.
FAROUK CASSIM (COPE) Milnerton