The people shall govern. These four words underscore a fundamental principle that those who fought for democracy in SA in the 1950s and beyond believed in. Now, 28 years after SA’s first democratic elections, the role people play in the governance of this nation has been reduced to casting a vote every few years.
In the context of a proportional representation electoral system which centres on political parties, the ability for the people to govern is mediated by political elites; individuals and groups with the resources and networks to contest political power at the ballot box regardless of their legitimacy, competence, ethics or intentions. Who governs is not a matter of who among us is best suited to effect practical and progressive change in communities, but who makes the most noise or best manages their delegates at conferences to win elections.
Politicians and their parties have brought the country to where it is today. This is not limited to parties who have had the levers of government directly in their hands, but includes parties that have occupied seats in parliament, provincial legislatures, councils and a range of statutory decision-making bodies. It is politicians and political parties that have led and engaged in politics of division, the corruption of state institutions and the near failure of the state.
They have in various ways contributed to a political culture that has resulted in millions of South Africans being disillusioned about democratic systems and the value of voting. The same politicians and parties have been quick to blame voters for the state of politics and growing voter apathy, yet refuse to hold mirrors to themselves to determine how their brand of politics may be the very reason people would rather stay at home than choose political alternatives, even in the face of a government that is failing to deliver on its promises.
Although civil society is allowed to organise, the political sway on state governance as groups or individuals is restricted by political parties and their representatives. The consequences of this is a shrinking space for the majority of people in communities, businesses and NGOs to have a legitimate and sustained input into democracy and governance.
People are frustrated and resorting to extreme measures, making them willing to be led or misled by anyone who provides platforms for them to express their concerns and take action. Others are so despondent that they view any political discussion or action with suspicion or as futile. This state of affairs is unsustainable.
We cannot continue down a path that leads to less political participation by the majority of people and an increasingly unaccountable political elite.
SA needs a new political culture which encourages political participation and fosters ways to ensure that more people have the power to participate in governance. At its core, politics is not simply about political parties and contesting elections – it is the power to take action. The power to act to change our society should not be reserved for a few; it must be available to all who are willing to work towards building a better future, in large and small ways.
By leaving politics and governance to political parties and their representatives, we lose out on the leadership, skills and ideas of many who wake up every day to work for a better society. These include small and medium business owners who are growing industries despite the state failing to create an enabling environment, community activists who selflessly and often for no wages ensure that the most vulnerable people are fed, sheltered, access education and live in clean environments, professionals who build world-class business systems, invent cutting-edge technologies, research the best policies, write policies adopted by the United Nations and are sought-after strategists the world over, and NGOs and community-based organisations that are resisting poor governance, assist youth in becoming employable and advocate for change.
The power of active citizens needs to be given the same attention and legitimacy as the power of politicians and the state. Politics outside of government and politicians is not only possible but is already happening with many communities stepping up to close the gaps left in governance by the failures of the state and politicians.
Perhaps it is time to consider that the people are governing themselves, serving themselves and their communities. If that is true, it begs the questions: who do politicians act in service of when they are not trying to win elections? What do political parties exist to do between elections?
A new political culture, politics that encourages participation, is possible. Politics that drives solutions. Politics that rewards action over rhetoric. Politics that centres people rather than parties, in governance and the work of the state. A politics in which all people see themselves as partners in governance rather than simple beneficiaries of government is possible.
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