An election, and a result, that show the way forward

THE maturity of our democratic system was further demonstrated this week as the nation held another free, fair and peaceful election. With the exception of the acts of violence that engulfed parts of Alexandra township in northern Johannesburg on Friday night, the process generally went smoothly and the results were accepted as credible by most political parties and citizens.

Although these elections registered a record number in terms of voter turnout, it was due only to an increase in population size and the number of registered voters.

In real terms, there was a major slump in the turnout, with only 73.3% of those registered to vote turning up at the polling stations on election day. In 2009, the turnout stood at 77.3%.

Independent Electoral Commission officials say these are acceptable figures, given the fact that in many established democracies the average turnout is only about 40% of registered voters.

But the decline points to growing apathy in sections of our society. In Limpopo, for instance, some voting districts reported a turnout of as low as 30%. Much of this apathy, it would seem, is among traditional ANC voters who are disillusioned with the party but do not find opposition parties attractive.

Also worrying is the youth’s extremely low rate of participation in the elections. According to IEC statistics, only one in every three eligible first-time voters — the so-called born-frees who would have been voting for the first time this year — bothered to register to vote. Even among those who did, not all turned up at the polls on election day.

This level of apathy is unacceptable, especially in a democracy as young as ours.

Citizens need to realise that there is no more powerful weapon in their hands than their vote. It is of no use to protest against the lack of service delivery or the poor quality of leaders in government or on the opposition benches when you do not participate in the process of determining who those leaders are.

This year’s election has confirmed a trend that we have noticed since the 2009 general election and in the 2011 local government polls — that voters have little appetite for smaller parties, preferring to back two or three big parties.

Although the ANC remains a colossus of South African politics with the support of more than 60% of voters, it is facing an increasingly serious challenge from the Democratic Alliance.

The DA has continued to grow with every election and, even though it did not reach the 30% mark it initially set for itself, its support increase in traditional ANC constituencies, especially in Gauteng, has laid the foundation for a highly competitive race for the control of larger metropolitan areas such as Johannesburg and Tshwane in the 2016 local government elections.

The emergence of Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters as South Africa’s third-largest parliamentary party promises an exciting time in parliament; his combative style of politics is hopefully going to keep cabinet ministers and ANC MPs on their toes.

Despite the decline, President Jacob Zuma and his party received a resounding mandate from the electorate to get on with the programme. They should not squander it.

The incoming administration is fortunate that it comes into power with a clear road map laid out for it in the form of the National Development Plan.

With a 62% majority, Zuma has no excuse not to implement the plan if he is serious about reducing inequality and poverty levels, creating job opportunities and growing the economy.