Vote SA First – new wave of clean politics

Eric Naki

South Africa is set to experience a new people-centred approach to politics with the establishment of a civil society platform Vote South Africa First.

The formation promises to enforce accountability and putting the electorate first by political parties.

Vote South Africa First proclaims to be a nonpartisan body and not a political party. It vowed to provide an open platform for the voters and political parties to interact in the interest of South Africa and democracy.

Its convenor Dr Bheki Shongwe said: “We want to introduce a new entry into South Africa’s elections, the ordinary people of South Africa, and voters who want to have a voice in the election of their government and to determine their future.

“Vote South Africa First will be a permanent feature in both the general and local government elections.”

The body would serve as a platform for active citizens’ participation during the election; will place the electorate at the centre of power; and will signal the beginning of the end of an era where voters have been taken for a ride, Shongwe said. “We will be part of the electoral process in the country, we want South African people to be election observers. We will organise presidential debates of leaders of political parties.”

Vote South Africa First will unveil its “people’s manifesto which was uniquely emanating from the grassroots”. The manifesto outlines the body’s vision and what ordinary voters would like to see happening in South Africa to ensure effective democracy, political accountability, and economic prosperity.

Shongwe stressed that his formation would not be a political party or a membership-based body but a civil society platform opened to leaders of political parties across the spectrum. “Vote South Africa First would insist that political parties who are seeking votes from the electorate should give a proper account of their intentions and also of their track record.

“The ultimate goal of Vote South Africa First is to enable the people of South Africa to elect a government that will put their interests and those of the country above everything else, as the cornerstone and justification for its existence. This will bring about a true democratic government – a government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

Shongwe added that a participative electorate was important against a context of state capture, corruption, unemployment, poor leadership, the junk status, weak service delivery and much more.

He said the body will be officially unveiled on November 29 at Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia, north of Johannesburg, at 10.30am.