Why these elections matter a lot

There can be no question that next week’s local government elections will be a defining moment in SA. The numbers alone tell us this much. 

About 26.2m people are registered to vote come Monday. That is 300,000 people less than in 2016. This drop is indicative of an increased level of apathy from ordinary citizens, which is borne out of a sense of disillusionment with the government, political parties and, by extension, our electoral system as a whole.

While not to be commended, the disillusionment is understandable. Almost daily, this newspaper tells stories of the collapse of governance and the most despicable betrayal of human rights as seen in the conditions under which many live.

The sting of this betrayal is not only in the dilapidation all around us, but the stripping away of opportunities for people to empower and develop themselves. 

Still, another set of numbers offers a glimmer of hope that for many others, the disillusionment with current political options has compelled them to step up to offer themselves as alternative players in our electoral system. 

There are 95,427 candidates registered for this vote. That’s some 30,000 more than the last election in 2016. Notably, 1,546 people are standing as independent candidates compared to 855 in the last election. 

Some argue, of course, that a fragmented political party landscape is not helpful to make a meaningful contribution. They argue that change can only be achieved through the consolidation of power in one direction or the other. 

Not only is this narrative undemocratic, it is simply untrue. Change is driven by people whose collective allegiance is to good governance and the constitution, regardless of which side of the political divide they are on. 

The state of our towns and cities means that in this election the stakes are even higher than before. Good local governance is an imperative that none of us can afford to sacrifice for the sake of expediency.

We can only improve our municipalities when we put people in power who are fit for purpose.

Importantly, they need to be people who regard accountability to the people and the constitution first as a non-negotiable demand of leadership. 

Next week we will be afforded an opportunity to make our choice. 

May we be faithful to this civic duty and may we make choices that ultimately reflect our collective aspirations.