Majority demonstrate excitement about upcoming local elections at The Great Debate
JOBURG – Representatives said they hoped to do away with the perception that voting for smaller parties was wasting votes.
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD)’s The Great Debate, attended by over 100 residents, was coloured by political tension, passionate political views, and visible determination to initiate change in South Africa. The debate saw party representatives take the hot seat to answer questions thrown at them by seeded journalist Mandy Wiener. After this, the opportunity was given for viewers to present their questions to chosen candidates.
Wiener was forthright with her questions, asking everything, from questions around ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba’s resignation as mayor, to what executive mayor, ANC mayoral candidate Mpho Moerane believed the current state of the City of Joburg was, to who respective parties refused to be in partnership with.
There was a moment of heated tension between two of the representatives, when one used the word ‘mafia’ to describe certain antics and the other asked him to retract the statement, which he refused to do.
Guests to The Great Debate also had the chance to participate in various polls. One of these asked how they felt about the upcoming local elections. The results showed that 47% of guests were excited to exercise their democratic rights. A high percentage of 43% were undecided, and 10% checked the box– ‘Meh, could not be bothered’.
Researcher at the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), Thembelani Mazibuko laid the foundation for the evening, explaining along with Wiener that all tiers of government worked together to deliver on service delivery.
He explained the voting process allowed for residents to vote for councillors who then established ward governance, which was then responsible for the day-to-day running of respective wards, and municipalities in which residents live.
Representatives said they hoped to do away with the perception that voting for smaller parties was wasting votes.
After watching The Great Debate, the majority of viewers (44%) were then convinced of who they wanted to vote for. A slightly lower percentage (41%) checked the ‘I’m still letting this marinade’ box, and 15% agreed with, ‘Promises, promises… no politician deserves my vote’.
Despite some political bantering, The Great Debate provided valuable insights for voters, and answers to how the respective parties saw the solution for moving South African governance forward.
View The Great Debate by visiting https://www.facebook.com/SAJBD/
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