Peaceful elections will reflect true democracy

THIRTY years after South Africa attained freedom from the oppression of apartheid, many are still grappling with poverty caused by our economic downturn.

This year, 2024, is a watershed moment for our country as scores of political parties take to the polls to demonstrate what democracy means.

However the lead-up to the May 29 national and general elections has already been marred by early signs of political intolerance and election violence.

The newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party leaders have threatened violence if things don’t go their way, while some members of the governing ANC have shown intolerance for the emergence of new political parties in recent by-elections in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa, that has to preside over free and fair elections, has been hauled to court by different political parties leading to actions which show democracy does exist in the country, but is threatened by what seems to be looming violence.

In 1994, the dawn of democracy led to many deaths because of the political conflict that began in the years preceding the April 27 elections.

Statistics recorded 14 000 deaths and 22 000 injuries prior to that election.

SACP leader Chris Hani was murdered, bringing the threat of civil war.

According to statistics, for three years before the elections around 260 victims died every month on average, and in the 10 months before elections, the monthly average jumped to 460 deaths.

A repeat of this has to be avoided, because if electoral violence is not addressed it can have dire consequences for social cohesion and the legitimacy of democracy.

Electoral violence and conflict which are used by political parties as tactics to get their way leading up to the elections must not be allowed. It’s a threat to our hardfought democracy gained through painful struggle over the years, and to a freedom for which many people died.

The government has to detect early signs of threat and eliminate it.

South Africa cannot afford anymore violence – it has to be rooted out so that the country benefits from credible elections.