Do we Actually Have a Democracy in South Africa?

Is our “new democracy” actually a Democracy?  I know that we can now all vote – but isn’t that to do with “franchise”?  Is the ability to vote a definition of Democracy?  I don’t think so.  The concept of Democracy has more to do with what we do with our vote – or maybe, what we are allowed to do with our vote.

Even Google seems to have a problem with this question.  If you Google “What is Democracy”, Google choices are “What is Democracy” and “What is Democracy in South Africa”.  So, clearly there is a difference.

Some definitions of Democracy:

• A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives
• A form of government in which all people have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives.
• The political orientation of those who favour government by the people or by their elected representatives
• A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
• Majority rule: the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group

So, what do we have in South Africa?  Firstly, except for the Local elections, it is not possible to elect a member to represent you in government.  You can only vote for a party.  And then, the person who will represent you needs to come from a prioritized “list” of people.  And, in the case of some parties with Local elections, they give you the only candidate that is permitted to stand for the ward.

But, where does this “list” come from?  Now, for me, this is the biggest problem that I have in calling what we have a Democracy.  The “list” is actually a “popularity contest” held among the “elite” of each political party.  We have no say as to the names on the list, or their relative position on the list.  This is part of the “popularity contest” process.  The more “influential” you are, the more votes you will get from the “elite”.  The more votes you get, the higher you get on the list and the more chance you have of becoming a member of parliament – or the provincial equivalent.  And then, to confound it even further, the top names become the Executive Committee.

There’s no assessment of ability, no assessment of commitment, no assessment of service orientation.  Nothing that could actually translate into service delivery and the will of the people.

Three of the definitions above talk about “elected representative”.  We do not elect our representatives.  Instead, the "election" of "representatives" is about who can do what to whom among the party elite.  And please don’t try to tell me that it is not so.  It IS so.  Have a look at the appointments that get made in any one tenure.  It’s all about rewarding friends, currying favour with those of influence, and making appointments that ensure that your “line” is the line that is followed.

This is just not Democracy.  And neither does it lend itself to Service Delivery – or at least not Service Delivery to the vast majority of the population anyway!  If we want to inculcate Service Delivery as a value and a standard in government, we simply have to change the system from the current “popularity contest” to a real Democracy where every eligible person has the ability to vote for the person that they believe will serve them the best.

Or is this just a pipe-dream?