Voters must inform political candidates
COALITION governments in South Africa have, so far, not shown or presented themselves as better forms of government in the absence of an outright winner at the polls.
Democracy does not have the capacity to resolve identified challenges facing our communities right now.
In the 1960s, communities trusted their chosen leaders and knew they would not misrepresent or mislead them.
Today, communities expect their political representatives or leaders to consult with them on matters affecting them.
However, convened community meetings are often either poorly attended or simply fail to attract significant numbers of followers, supporters and voters.
There are apparent reasons for the unstable nature of South African coalition governments, although no published research findings are available for this.
A considerable number of potential voters, supporters of interest groups, and members affiliated to the various interest groups hold differing views on the reasons for the lack of interest to participate in elections in South Africa.
The following are the subjective views potential voters, supporters and affiliated members of interest groups hold when it comes to their lack of interest to participate in electoral processes in South Africa:
• Elected and trusted leaders of interest groups do not consult properly with supporters, potential voters and affiliated members when they enter into coalition agreements with leaders of other interest groups
• Coalition agreements are hardly based on policy issues, and openly negotiated and agreed procedural administrative operations
• Coalition agreements in the main are based on what interest group leaders want to see happen more than that which garners support from affiliated members, supporters and potential voters Lastly, surveyed potential voters also mentioned the continuing rise of political lying as the reason for their lack of participation in political processes. These voters cite promises made in the past by trusted leaders, which are not kept.
Good advice to inexperienced and young voters is that electoral boycotts alone will serve no good purpose.
The present system will only change if young people hold political leaders to account. Equally, the use of violence or inflammatory language will not change the political system.
These young voters must be persuaded that it is only through using constitutional means that you may help change the system for the better – and not by relying solely on destructive public demonstrations and street protests.
Dramatic, unplanned and sudden changes in government drive away potential investors and make it difficult, if not impossible, for government and private investors to create desperately needed jobs.