“Oh what a wicked web we weave!” A comment on Elections 2009
On 22 April 2009 South Africans will flock to the polls to choose the party they feel is best suited to run the country for the next five years. And there is no shortage of political parties canvassing their support. The Independent Electoral Commission
The ‘Zuma’ factor
Can a single party hold too much power? The gut response to the above question is yes. British historian and moralist, Baron Acton, famously said “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In the run up to elections we’ve had to deal with every manner of political shenanigans as a precursor to what an unfettered majority could mean for South Africa.
The ruling party has demonstrated its will to use each and every organ of state to manipulate outcomes to suit its goals. Since the much publicised ANC National Conference at Polokwane the general public has witnessed the relentless persecution of individuals who were not aligned to the so-called Zuma faction. Ex-president Thabo Mbeki was the highest profile victim of a purge which soon extended beyond the corridors of public service to independent ‘Chapter 9’ institutions. While opponents were rounded up and put out to pasture the executive exerted unbearable pressure on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Judiciary and various government departments to clear the way for the new guard.
The purge started with the dismantling of the Scorpions, gathered momentum with the now forgotten medical parole of convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik, and culminated with the NPA decision to drop all charges against ANC president, Jacob Zuma. “I have come to the difficult conclusion that it is neither possible nor desirable for the NPA to continue with the prosecution of Zuma,” said acting national director of public prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe. It’s a decision which will damage the credibility of all associated parties for years to come.
On hollow victories and pointless electioneering
Zuma’s popularity is unquestionable. He enjoys more support than any other leader in South Africa and is well liked by almost all who intend voting for the ANC. Does popularity guarantee morality? Baron Acton capped his earlier comment with the words: “Great men are almost always bad men!” And this ‘great’ man is busy taking the media to task for portraying him in a negative light. He’s already sunk his teeth into the Sunday Times (and cartoonist Jonathon Shapiro) locally – and will also sue the Guardian in the UK for defamation.
Love or hate them, the country’s independent media has kept us abreast of political developments, though not always with the desirable level of impartiality. It’s a sad fact that fifteen years after the dawn of democracy, South Africa’s major newspapers are still ‘tarred’ with the political affiliation brush while party politics plays out along race lines. Clearly the country has a long way to go before it can be regarded as a mature democracy.
That said, opposition parties can (and do) use the courts to launch challenges against decisions they view as abuses of power. The Freedom Front recently backed a South African living abroad in his bid to secure the right for citizens living abroad to vote. Although loudly trumpeted as a victory, the IEC succeeded in limiting the damage to the ruling party by convincing the Constitutional Court to refuse expatriates the opportunity to register to vote. They ruled that expatriates could only cast a vote if already registered – and we doubt many of them will fly back to South Africa just to get their name on the election roll. There have been numerous court challenges since the NPA decision too. The Democratic Alliance has approached the courts to review the NPA decision in the Zuma matter. The Independent Democrats have brought criminal charges against ex NPA boss Bulelani Ngcuka and ex Scorpions head Leonard McCarthy. And not to be outdone, the IFP went to court to try and force Home Affairs to grant the Dalai Lama an entrance visa.
Is voting a right or a duty?
The IEC is hoping for a high turnout in the 2009 elections. For the most part the number of people who actually turn up to make their mark on the day is rather disappointing. Why should you vote? The right to vote is enshrined in the country’s constitution, so surely it’s your choice to refuse it. We agree; but to counter this argument we propose you apply your mind to the difference between a right and a duty. You have a right to vote and you have a duty to exercise it! That’s why we appeal to every eligible South African to take a few minutes on the 22 April 2009 to make their mark. See you at the polls!
Editor’s thoughts: South Africans have a great deal to be thankful for as we participate in our fourth ‘free and fair’ elections. Unlike other African nations we’ve embraced the concepts of democracy and political tolerance so completely that the rest of the world has no qualms about us hosting an international cricket tournament in the same week as our national poll. Will you be making your cross on 22 April 2009? Add your comment below, or send it to gareth@fanews.co.za
