Eish! Its Local Election time again… What do they mean to me? I have voted in every single election since 1994, it’s all about bread and butter issues unlike national elections.
I remember voting for the first time, having been born and lived in the racially segregated South Africa, I had high expectations of the then “New South Africa”. Everyone was upbeat about the new dispensation led by the charismatic Nelson Mandela, who negotiated a peaceful change for all.
My expectations were free equal education, better housing, better health services, water and electricity for everyone, pressing one was equal employment opportunities for all. But in the past 20 years, I have seen less or insignificant progress. I have seen lots of kids drop out because they can’t afford it especially in the previously disadvantaged groups. This has resulted in unskilled labor and pushed the unemployment figures high and lead to importing skills from outside the country. In turn, it resulted in social unrest between locals and foreigners competing for economic space.
I have seen health services in urban centers doing very well, health services are free for the unemployed and senior citizens. In housing, I have seen many houses being built even though the department is plagued by corruption. Tender operators are looting big money while offering low quality services. Applicants jumping the queue because of corrupt municipal officials and we still have a lot of people living in squatter camps. Our rural areas have long been forgotten from most basic services.
Employment opportunities would address the disparity between white and black but very few employers are doing this while others are not prepared to do it yet.
Water and electricity has seen a lot of improvement in urban areas but in rural areas there is no water supply at all leading to severe outbreak of cholera.
Media has played a major role in corruption, which is one of the good things that has happened since 1994. Civil society movements, independent media, political opposition are operating freely. We are politically immature in South Africa because we are still voting in racial lines or on sentiments, we don’t really look at manifestos or compare them before voting.
Most South Africans are losing interest to vote and in politics as its always been a business as usual for the people in power.Its local elections, business as usual for me as well, expect for Gauteng, which I would like to keep a keen eye on.
Our very own Stanley Mbatha, one of Greenpeace Africa’s most valued staff member, and proudly 65, gives his opinion on the upcoming election. Please see as well the point of view of Sphume Msomi, 27, who speaks as a member of the younger generation. We also asked people on the street to tell their opinion in a short video here.