OPINION: #2024Elections: Is the grass greener on the other side?

• Kea Mojaji writes:

The removal of former Mogale City Mayor Tyrone Gray has left many with a bitter taste while some are favourable to the decision due to their political alignment. However, does the change in political administration guarantee a brighter future for the nation, or are we just too reliant on politicians to do the right thing?

General elections will be held in South Africa in 2024 where a new National Assembly will be elected as well as provincial legislature in each province. Next year’s elections will be the seventh democratic elections held since the end of the apartheid era in 1994 but while citizens need to exercise their right to vote, one has to make the right decision.

Citizens have grown frustrated with the governing party for the lack of service delivery, high unemployment and crime rates and feel that they have not done enough to move the country forward. It is within their rights to feel that way and it is also within their rights to be satisfied with the ruling party as well. That is the beauty of being in a democracy.

Citizens also have the choice of whether or not they can engage with one another to resolve issues in their community or just let the community collapse while politicians are distracted by power plays so that they can maintain whatever dominance they have in the political space. There are many non-profit organisations with programmes that citizens can engage with to improve their own living conditions, it is fair to express your concern, however, problems can not resolve themselves.

So as a citizen, you have a choice. You can engage with non-political organisations to come up with ways to improve the livelihoods of all who live in this beautiful country of ours, or we could forever have conflict while trying to figure out who the best scapegoat is. Bear in mind that should a new political party come into power, how certain can we be that the grass is greener on the other side?