SA Politics – Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe
I’ve never cared much for politics. This is largely because I felt intimidated by it. When I don’t feel knowledgeable about a subject I simply steer clear of it to avoid looking lke an idiot. I could never understand politics because it never made sense to me.
I think I understand now that I had the wrong impression about politics all along. In my mind government and politics were synonymous. I’ve always thought government should be about duty, responsibility and delivery, and I’d like to believe I’m right (albeit a little idealistic).
Growing up I was shielded from much of what was happening politically in South Africa. My folks weren’t particularly politically active, and it was not really a subject discussed at home. I do remember being quite entertained by the song and dance around the US elections as far back as I can recall (some things never change). My first real awareness of any profound political happenings came with Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, but then he went on to make me believe politics was all about honour, justice, honesty and people. Silly me.
With his passing from a position of influence in the ANC, I have learned that politics is really about egos jostling for power, rhetoric that is never (or seldom at best) acted upon and corruption. The political philanderings of the last few years in South Africa could not have been scripted in Hollywood, leaving us average Saffas a bit bewildered. This wouldn’t be such an issue if their wasn’t the small matter of a presidential election looming less than two months away.
Do I vote for the ANC based on the fact that I really buy in to the values that the party was founded on? Well, the paper those values were written on is smeared with the skidmarks of today’s ANC leadership which, with the exception of one or two individuals, strikes me as being nothing short of cancerous. Jacob Zuma will be our next president, but he will not get my vote.
So then do I default to Cope, the breakaway party that is shouting from the rooftops their intention to reinvent the ethos and spirit that once gave birth to the ANC? It hasn’t taken 6 months for Cope to fall prey to exactly the same crap, with power-mongering and division in the ranks already tainting their image. I’m not holding out on hope.
What about the DA? The DA have made a lot of noise in my world recently as they’ve attempted to Obamify their campaign activites with various social media initiatives including their volunteer site Contribute to Change, a sassy new web site and even a Twitter account for Helen Zille. Matthew Buckland has in fact written an excellent piece highlighting the various digital efforts of our major political parties. But my heart is not in what the DA is doing and saying. They remind me of that nerdy clever kid in class that liked to tell on all the other kids to please the teacher.
Wait, wasn’t that me?
Seriously though – they are anklebiters. Winers. And Helen – I like you – but please, stop talking about what the ANC is doing wrong (we’re all brutally aware of that) and talk about what YOU’LL do RIGHT.
As for the rest of the options I’m pretty much uninformed. I don’t really know what anyone stands for, all I’ve heard is posing and mudslinging and egos and blaming. But then, that’s politics, isn’t it?
C’mon guys – give an average South African something to believe in. I’m begging you.
Popularity: 28% [?]
I agree.
Unfortunately, right now all I’m believing in is the power of eventually. Either eventually all the people will be educated enough that we will have decent presidential candidates or eventually, things will get so bad we’ll all say “This is enough!”, and do something about it.
by PattiLain
on 27. Feb, 2009
Nice post Mike.
by Nic
on 27. Feb, 2009
The DA anticipated your request, and responded to it here
I think it is a little unfair to say the DA never says what it will do to resolve a problem, but only points out what the ANC is doing wrong. We have plenty to say about what we would do (have a look at Our Policies, for example).
However, politics is about a contest of ideas, and any positive proposal is offered in the context of an identified problem, which usually comes down to what the incumbent government is doing wrong. It also comes down to contrasting what one party offers with what another offers (or doesn’t offer). Helen Zille regularly contrasts the DA’s vision of an open opportunity society for all with the ANC’s closed patronage society.
Another factor in your perception of political parties is, what are most people interested to read about (assuming that the media is responsive to this)? Because the emphasis of stories about politics tends to be on the contestation, rather than policy or one party’s offer in isolation. If the DA issues a statement analysing a problem in government and proposing solutions, nine times out of ten, the lead will be about the problem, and not the solution proposed. The ‘fight’ is obviously considered more newsworthy.
by Anthony Hazell
on 27. Feb, 2009
Hey Mike,
Truth be told, I normally only read blog posts which are a paragraph or two long, but you had me hooked on this – what a great piece.
I have to agree with everything you’ve said. I’m not much of a political person either and my knowledge is very limited, but what I can say is that I can identify which parties are going to run this country properly and you’ve outlined them and justified your beliefs well. In terms of the DA, it’s great to see them entering the digital sphere, albeit slowly, but it’s happening and it’s great.
In terms of them pointing out what’s wrong, I see value in this, BUT only a little value, I would also love to know what they’ll “do right”, because I actually have no clue what so ever.
Nice one Mike.
by Chris M
on 27. Feb, 2009
Interesting write up.
@ Chris… interesting that the DA has gone all social media, but with only a tiny fraction of SA with internet access it really is a pointless avenue.
@ Anthony… I tend to agree with Mike. I haven’t actually heard what the DA are GOING to do. After everything I’ve heard on TV, Radio… and for some strange reason even my cell phone (I honestly don’t know when I subscribed to your alerts) I don’t know what the DA propose to do. Back to my point to Chris with so many not able to access the internet what use is pointing me, as an average South African, to your website?
by Robert
on 27. Feb, 2009
Robert, I hear what you’re saying, but what you need to realise is that the digital movement is only a minor part of their overall strategy. They have a number of campaigns going, including traditional media, which then targets different audiences. Spreading out ones marketing mediums is a wise move..
by Chris M
on 27. Feb, 2009
@ Robert… As Chris said, online is only one medium of communication. I can assure you that we have numerous other touch points which, in their totality, cover our target market. While the number of South Africans with internet access is still a minority, it is still significant, especially if one looks at the DA’s traditional support base.
We don’t see our online, and particularly social media, strategy so much as aimed at creating new supporters as it is about building relationships with existing supporters and providing them with the opportunity to get involved and become part of our campaign. It’s not merely about the people we interact with online, it’s also about the people they interact with, both online and offline, about the DA.
by Anthony Hazell
on 27. Feb, 2009
I actually meant to add that I didn’t think it was about recruiting, per say, but rather awareness and another channel for useful information to be circulated..
by Chris M
on 27. Feb, 2009
@ Chris: agreed. But too little too late?
@ Anthony: Agreed and it is fantastic to see this forward movement. While your point about this not being aimed at generating new support but rather building on current support I can’t help but feel that so much is being missed out on. Especially as I, who spend an insane amount of time (about 80 hours a week) online, have only now been exposed to this – after voter registration has closed…
Did I miss the bus, or did you?
Sorry if that sounds kinda snarky but that’s where my point lies.
by Robert
on 27. Feb, 2009
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by SA Politics - Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe | Mike Stopforth | Zonedeck
on 27. Feb, 2009
@All – thanks for your contributions to what needs to be a healthy debate.
@Anthony – thanks for your response and the links – I like the Ten Commitments piece. Like I said – I like you – it’s just that much of what I hear in the media is, as I put it, anklebiting. I never said “that the DA never says what it will do to resolve a problem”. I simply intimated that the focus has come across as reactive to the ANC, not proactive in terms of what the DA plans to do – you have kindly shown me resources that prove otherwise.
All that said, policies and promises are one thing, and execution is another. The ANC have been in power – so all their strengths and weaknesses are exposed and more. The DA and Cope can make promises bedonderd but the proof is always in the eating. I guess I’m being defensive against my tendency to “fall in love” with the ideal. I hope and pray the DA is what is says it is, and can do what it says it can do, if I am to cast my vote with you.
Hope that makes sense.
by Mike
on 27. Feb, 2009
I admire what the DA have done online but am interested to know why they have chosen to reinvent the wheel instead of speaking to users where they are in existing communities online. I would probably think that this is because they want to own their users details, which is understandable, but then why not extend to South African communities and social media sites over and above the Facebook group. Surely this would only add to their campaign? This is however not the problem with the DA alone, as other parties have suffered from the same lack of integration with other South African sites and communities and bloggers. DA has done a good job but I think that they are missing out.
by Louise
on 27. Feb, 2009
Mike (and others), I think your assessment of the DA is completely unfair. The DA HAS to point out what the ANC is doing wrong in order to educate the masses that blindly follow the party like sheep to the slaughter. However, the DA has also been very vocal about what they will do were they to win. Perhaps you should consider watching the debates on TV or reading the site properly before posting because, to be honest, you sound highly uninformed right now. Further, the DA is the most diverse party and has a strong leader in Helen Zille who SHOULD be president, rather than that bumbling idiot who is just a figure head for COSATU and the SACP. COPE is almost as bad since their presidential candidate is a friggin’ religious leader! I can imagine what rights he would want to take away from certain groups of people. The DA is the only answer (and no, I am not a DA party member).
by Doug
on 23. Mar, 2009
Hi Doug
Thanks for your input. Sure the DA has to point out what the ANC has to say. Not debating the role of the opposition. But as a fairly busy, reasonably ADD voter, I don’t scrutinise EVERY policy and wach EVERY debate. Like I said, it’s easy as the DA to criticise because they have not yet had the burden of delivery to be measured by.
Like I said, I like Helen Zille. I like what she has to say. I like her attitude. But check her Twitter account and tell me how often she makes comparisons and negative observations with the ANC, and how often she speaks about how the DA has delivered.
Regarding Dr Dandala, aren’t you being just a little judgmental yourself? Have you read his policies? Done your homework on him? How you met the man? (I have, incidentally). Do you know where he stands on the issues you are concerned about? Just curious. Because of your obvious aversion to religion you’ve written him off right off the bat.
By the way, as it stands I’m voting DA. Just so you know.
by Mike
on 23. Mar, 2009
I believe religion and politics do not mix. Because almost every religion believes it to be the one and only way to heaven (or something similar) and so, by nature, is bound to be oppressive towards other people in some way or form (sometimes explicitly and sometimes less so). Look at the Christian Democratic Alliance as an example of why religion and politics should not mix. They are promoting taking away the rights of certain groups of South Africans. How is that justifiable?
Regarding Dr Dandala, I just don’t trust the guy. And I think it was a HUGE mistake for COPE to elect him as their presidential candidate. Though, not as big a mistake as electing Jacob Zuma.
Regarding the DA, of COURSE Helen is going to rag on the ANC all the time. There is a lot they do wrong. Their biggest mistake being electing JZ as the ANC president and Julius ‘Dumbass’ Malema as head of the Youth League. Nevermind the fact that they have several criminals on their election list. She has every right to bag them because they have no ethics. She also has every right to express the positive things the DA are doing. They have done awesome things in Cape Town. She was also elected world mayor of the year because of it. She also calls people out for the stupid / corrupt things they do.
by Doug
on 03. Apr, 2009
I don’t know much about politics but I can say one thing is for sure with up coming elections the DA will be getting my vote, the ANC keeps promising the world and has yet to deliver, and shame these people that vote fort hem keep believing that this will happen.
by Amy Wagner
on 14. Apr, 2009
@ Amy: I don’t know why they keep voting the same lines, it boggles my mind. I’m pretty sure that they will continue to vote that way regardless of what is promised or delivered.
While I believe that many simply vote along racial lines I am pleased to see that COPE now offer an alternative to the ANC. If nothing else we can hope that it leaves government a little more open than what we’ve come to expect or as we fear.
by Robert
on 14. Apr, 2009
The only way to change the voting habits of the uneducated masses is to ensure they are appropriately educated. Maybe that’s the ANC’s plan – to keep the masses uneducated so that they will continue to vote for them!
by Doug
on 21. Apr, 2009
Why African people vote according to racial lines. TRUST, we still do not trust that there is any ‘white’ South African out there with our interest at heart, ‘white’ South Africa still has to prove that it means no harm. However the recent events have done a lot to prove the negative(Brendon, District 9, Zilles comment that white people pay the tax we don’t)
It has nothing to do with wisdom or principles!
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