This is an election year. During the election campaigns, politicians will be friendly and closer to the people. They will also promise voters heaven and earth, as they always do. Once elected into power, they will do what they do best: vanish into thin air. They will also become distant, arrogant and unresponsive. This is what they have been doing for the past 24 years. So, they are predictable.
That said, I’m more concerned about South African voters than politicians. They don’t seem to realise that power lies with them, and not with politicians. As a result, they don’t hold political leaders accountable. They also don’t interrogate them and ask them tough and relevant questions. In simple terms, they allow leaders to get away with murder.
The South African education system is really bad. For the past 20 years, the curriculum has been changed many times. When learners fail, educators are blamed. But when the results are good, politicians take credit. The less said about overcrowding in our schools, the better. The health sector kills patients instead of healing them. The Life Esidimeni saga comes to mind. It’s a disaster. Things are not improving. Are voters holding politicians accountable for all of this?
The answer is a big “No”.
Late last year, the former SABC COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, launched his political party. A week or so ago, Mzwanele “Jimmy” Manyi also announced his new party. Do these people take us seriously? Motsoeneng and Manyi are not going to add any value to our political discourse.
They have started political parties to feed their stomachs. That’s all.
But here is the thing: they have seen how gullible South African voters are. Hence they are taking a chance in politics with the hope that they will each get a seat in parliament.
Most of our political leaders have no substance. Some can’t even make political statements. Yet they serve as cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, members of parliament, MPLs and councillors – they earn big fat cheques and enjoy all the nice benefits. It’s like the blind leading the blind. Who is to blame for such mediocre political leaders? No doubt … voters.
South African voters should wake up from their slumber. Politicians are there to serve them, not the other way round. Political leaders do as they please because they [the voters] allow them to. They are also arrogant and unresponsive because they [the voters] allow them to be. If voters continue to handle politicians with kid gloves, the status quo will remain.
