Herman Mashaba writes that the energy and resources the IEC is putting into its report about whether to hold the local government elections due to the pandemic, instead of into extraordinary measures to provide confidence in voting, demonstrates ActionSA's belief that a delay is inevitable.
Recently, the IEC appointed former Deputy Chief Justice, Dikgang Moseneke, to develop a report on the prospects of having free and fair elections in the coming local government elections, in light of the Covid-19. Sounds reasonable, right?
After all, this pandemic has touched the lives and livelihoods of all South Africans – exacting on some. Even now, many of us are bracing for the impact of the third wave.
Here is where it gets problematic. Delaying elections is something that you just do not do in a democracy. At the soul of democracy is the idea that those elected need to work to earn your support. Your support is signalled through a vote. This idea is so pivotal; countries have held elections in the middle of a war – such as South Korea in the middle of the Korean War. The notion of breaking away from the democratic process is more concerning in an environment where the present leaders leave much to be desired and discontent over the status quo.
Across the country, we have mayors directly implicated in criminal activities, we’ve had municipalities under administration for decades, failing infrastructure, and local governments passing double-digit increases in electricity costs will residents sit without power. Now is not the time to say to the leadership of these municipalities, "Please, continue as you were."
No reason to delay elections
Covid-19 is not a reason to delay these elections. It is the very reason why these elections must take place. This pandemic has increased the urgency to unseat the ANC nationally and install a new government.
South Africa is approaching a national debt trap, unemployment rising close to 50%, youth unemployment at 74% and inequalities deepening. The time for South Africans to insist on their right to vote and use it has quite literally never been more critical.
However, there are forces at work here that we should be concerned about. None of the established political parties wants these elections, no matter how much they pretend otherwise. The EFF are outright calling for the delay in elections until 2024. The ANC faces the prospect of a hammering for their mismanagement of the pandemic – voters do not wait for a national election to punish the ANC; look no further than 2016 as an example. Finally, there is the DA, whose demise has continued and worsened since Somadoda Fikeni famously said last year: "The DA is sitting in the corner mutilating itself, unprovoked."
Given that no political parties want these elections, we need to be wary of the IEC’s discussions about delaying the elections.
The work of the former Deputy Chief Justice will undoubtedly be based on two factors.
The Covid-19 pandemic and all its repercussions, vaccination levels, patterns of infections, hospital bed availability etc. Everyone can appreciate that the IEC has no control over these matters. However, on the other hand, they do have control over the measures they plan to put in place.
The greatest need to be wary of arises from the IEC itself, who are fumbling these discussions in a manner that puts themselves in the league of the DA. Political parties have led them on the discussions of delaying the elections to the point that political parties have been asked to make submissions about how these elections can be free and fair in a Covid-19 pandemic.
75 countries held elections last year
There were no fewer than 75 countries worldwide that held general elections last year during this pandemic, providing examples of how to run safe elections and how not to. It does not require a leap of logic to suggest that the IEC, as a creature of our Constitution, should have determined which measures it would implement to ensure the safety of voters and communicate those measures with sufficient volume to generate confidence.
This is the essence of the entire issue, because the biggest threat to free and fair elections would materialise if voters did not feel they could cast their vote without fear of contracting Covid-19. The issue raised by political parties suggesting a limitation on the ability to campaign is nonsense in a country where every business, organisation and home has had to adjust during this pandemic – why should parties be any different.
So, when the former Deputy Chief Justice writes his report, it will inevitably say that South Africans, at best, lack confidence in the IEC’s measures to keep them safe and, at worst, that there is an outright fear exercise their votes. How could it say anything else when the IEC has handled its communication in the run-up to this election like it were just any other?
ActionSA’s submission to the former Deputy Chief Justice will make our view known that the IEC is, through its inaction, is creating the environment for the possible delay of the elections. Their energy and resources are being put into this report and not extraordinary measures to provide confidence in voting demonstrates ActionSA's belief that a delay is inevitable.
It would be excused, maybe even understandable, for South Africans to chalk an election delay down to one of the many changes they have had to personally suffer from this pandemic. How could we not, after so many sacrifices, tragedies and suffering?
If we are to get South Africa working, we cannot have politicians feeling that they do not need to re-apply for their jobs every five years. If you think politicians are useless now, wait until they do not feel like they have to win your vote.
- Herman Mashaba is the leader of ActionSA.
To receive Opinions Weekly, sign up for the newsletter here. Now available to all News24 readers.
*Want to respond to the columnist? Send your letter or article to opinions@news24.com with your name and town or province. You are welcome to also send a profile picture. We encourage a diversity of voices and views in our readers' submissions and reserve the right not to publish any and all submissions received.
Disclaimer: News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24.