‘Hold politicians to account in 2019 poll’
THIS year is an election year, when politicians are friendly and closer to the people during their campaigns.
They also promise voters heaven and earth, as they always do, but once elected into power, they will do what they do best: vanish into thin air. They will also become distant, arrogant and unresponsive. This is what they have been doing for the past 24 years. So they are predictable.
That said, I’m more concerned about South African voters than the politicians. They don’t seem to realise that the power lies with them and not with the politicians. As a result, they don’t hold political leaders accountable. They also don’t interrogate them and ask them tough and relevant questions. In simple terms, they allow leaders to get away with murder.
The South African education system is really bad. For the past 20 years, the curriculum has been changed so many times. When learners fail, educators are blamed, but when the results are good, politicians take the credit. The less said about overcrowding in our schools the better.
The health sector kills patients, instead of healing them. The Life Esidimeni saga comes to mind. It’s a disaster and things are not improving. Are voters holding politicians accountable for all of this? The answer is a big “No”.
Late last year, former SABC chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng launched his political party. A week or so ago, Mzwanele “Jimmy” Manyi also announced his new party. Do these people take us seriously? Motsoeneng and Manyi are not going to add any value to our political discourse.
They have started political parties to feed their stomachs. That’s all.
But here’s the thing: they have seen how gullible South African voters are. Hence they are taking a chance in politics to each get a seat in Parliament.
Most of our political leaders have no substance. Some can’t even make political statements, yet they serve as cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, MPs, MPLs and councillors – they earn fat cheques and enjoy all of the benefits. But who is to blame for such mediocre political leaders? The voters. Kagiso