#IMadeMyMark: What the international community wants from SA’s 2019 elections
"Despite the world knowing that SA has always chosen the democratic path since 1994, international bodies, various countries and NGOs have always observed the country closely."
Celebrating 25 years of democracy, South African citizens are set to take to the polls in less than a week to make their mark at this year’s national elections.
Also read: A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION
2019 marks the sixth national election for SA under a democratic government.
In the hopes of gaining further insight into this year’s elections and how they will affect SA’s standing in the international community, the NEWS met with Dr Suzanne Graham, a professor of international relations and HOD at the University of Johannesburg’s Department of Politics and International Relations.
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“From my perspective, the international community is primarily concerned with two things; continued stable economic investment in our country post elections and whether SA can retain its moral authority as a democratic state.
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“I think it is very important to the world that SA can hold the sixth consecutive free and fair election.”
Graham said despite the world knowing that SA has always chosen the democratic path since 1994, international bodies, various countries and NGOs have always observed the country closely.
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She said this year SA can expect observers from other countries, the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community.
The observers will specifically look out for signs of a dramatic shift in South Africa, which could lead to a change in the country’s stability.
Graham said besides the need to display democratic principles, South Africa needs to show the rest of the world that they will continue as normal and remain stable.
“Whether we like it or not, we live in a neo-liberal world order where investment and South Africa’s growth means a lot,” said Graham.
Representatives from the international community, specifically our trading partners such as the USA, the BRICS trading alliance and the rest of Africa, will pay close attention to who is elected as South Africa’s next leader and where the country will go.
Graham said even though it is election year, SA was already on the radar of the international community because of it celebrating 25 years of democracy.
“We are one of the only countries in Africa that proved that we can transition peacefully.”
“As a country, we have a good reputation and are seen as a good international citizen, so it is important to uphold that.”
Graham said something that the international community would not want to see is a total change or radicalisation after the elections.
“If there is a change in leadership, all our trading partners and all of our bilateral partners would like to see a stable transition,” said Graham.
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