The week-long National Human Rights Day celebrations passed swiftly as communities throughout the country participated in election-related activities organised by political parties, civil society organisations, and academic institutions.
The activities I participated in focused on two issues.
First, conducting a survey on perceptions of first-time voters in Cape Town as part of my research at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) because, to get attention and support of young voters, politicians will need to know more than just a few contemporary buzz words. They should design their campaign messages to focus a little more on youth-related subjects such as access to youth-friendly reproductive health care services, quality education, efficient leaner-transport services, food security, violent crime, the drinking age and the driving age, and immigration.
Second, the signing of the Electoral Code of Conduct on March 19 by leaders of political parties participating in the upcoming national and provincial elections to recognise that South Africa is a democratic and constitutional state premised on the principles of regular elections and multi-partyism, and to accept that elections require an environment wherein there is free political activity, where all political parties are able to canvass support without fear or hindrance. In the presence of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), civil society formations, and other stakeholders these leaders of political parties also affirmed that democracy development in our country partly depends on the ability of voters to hear different political opinions as espoused by various parties and thus enable citizens to exercise the franchise on an informed basis.
The continuing institutionalization of elections remains a crucial goal that will, in part, determine the extent to which democratic consolidation is taking place in South Africa
In South Africa, where the right to vote by all was achieved only recently, elections tend to measure more than they would in a mature democracy. The continuing institutionalization of elections remains a crucial goal that will, in part, determine the extent to which democratic consolidation is taking place in South Africa. Of course, this process must happen in conjunction with the entrenchment of other key features of democracy, such as the rule of law, freedom of the press, and freedom of association. Viewed from the vantage point of elections, consolidation is proceeding relatively well in South Africa. Not only have the all political parties launched their election manifestos, but all indications are that the upcoming elections on May 07 will be held on time and as provided by the law and with improved electoral management machinery. The IEC has always managed elections better than it had managed the previous ones because of advanced preparations and the introduction of modern technology in election management. This includes the close working relationship between the IEC and civil society formations cultivated over the last thirteen months.
The significance of the signing of the Electoral Code of Conduct by leaders of political parties contesting elections has long been an issue of public debate, as some doubts have evolved over the years about whether some leader’s place at the table is truly deserved, given their shortcomings in always leading their parties in a manner that reinforces a culture of tolerance towards all other parties contesting elections.
However, even during heated moments of election campaigns in the past, the existence of such doubts has never been expressed in extreme terms as to call for suspension of offending political party leaders from the election contest as that situation could create an increased sense of political isolation and polarisation – the very thing the Constitution wanted to overcome by creating space for a multi-party democracy back in 1994. The Constitution provides us with building blocks so that we can heal the divisions of the past and pave a better future for South Africa.
One consistent observation I have made at these signing ceremonies is that leaders of political parties participate as equal members on issues of common concern, and truly believe that that free and fair elections are the only legitimate basis on which the authority to govern is derived.
This year’s was a unique event as it marked twenty years of our maturing democracy, with IEC Chairperson Pansy Tlakula as a host, and once again with political parties that will be contesting elections for the first time. This historic event forced the leaders to take a closer look at their relations with the IEC and the state machinery involved in the running of the elections, to understand and learn more about their respective strengths and weaknesses, as well as their shared vulnerabilities, and how they could best work together for the national common good. The cooperation fostered by this interaction, at the highest political level, also brought to the forefront, the group’s wide and deep level of interdependence with ordinary voters and independent observers.
The value in these periodic, face-to-face gatherings and the subsequent IEC committee platforms they make possible cannot be overstated. Over the years, these meetings have provided an indispensable opportunity during election campaigns for the stakeholders to express and exchange views in a private, forthright manner, based on the philosophy of an open and democratic society. The importance placed on these meetings by the leaders of stakeholder formations has once more been made clear.
We have witnessed over the years a considerable rise not only in the level of engagement by the stakeholders on issues spanning public promotion of the eradication of no-go areas for political campaigns by political parties, inclusion of independent candidates in the electoral system, and the introduction of modern technology in the election management systems. We have also witnessed affirmation of the commitment to desist from using speech or from participating in actions which will have the effect of provoking either parties’ supporters or members of the general public to commit acts of intolerance or take other inflammatory actions, but also an ever-increasing effort by the politicians to be accountable for the promises they make at these meetings and the commitments they agree to fulfill.
Although we still have a long way to go as a country in efforts to deepen our democracy, it has been demonstrated at these meetings that politicians take their pledges at the table seriously and value the importance of their relationship with their signatory partners.
Yes, stakeholders in the election process have an obligation to condemn politicians who break the law during election campaigns, for actions such as abuse of government food parcels to canvass for voter support or the use of hate speech, on the basis that these contravene the principles and values on which the democratic elections are contested. Let us move forward as a country and acknowledge that political parties and candidates participating in the national and provincial elections in 2014 are obliged to observe all provisions of the Electoral Code of Conduct, which is binding on those participating parties, their candidates, members and supporters.
Nkosikhulule Xhawulengweni Nyembezi is a Policy Analyst and Co-Chairperson of Elections 2014 National Co-ordinating Forum.
– By COMMENT: Nkosikhulule Nyembezi
