Perdeby Tuks se amptelike studentekoerant / Official Tuks student newspaper / Kuranta ya baithuti ya semmušo ya Tuks
14April2014
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2014 elections: make your mark
Image: Brad Donald
MAGGIE ROODT Elections will be held on 7 May and some are referring to them as the most contested elections since the start of democracy in South Africa. Since 1994 the ANC has largely dominated the polls, however, with the current build up to the elections, the possibility of yet another landslide ANC victory could be under question. There has been an increase in service delivery protests, corruption, new parties, and even old allies of the ANC, like Julius Malema, who have shunned away from the party. Will factors such as e-tolls, the Nkandla scandal and even the fact that Nigeria has officially surpassed South Africa as the biggest African economy, influence where you make your mark? Dr JCM Venter, lecturer at the School of Social and Government Studies at the NorthWest University, said in his article titled “The 2014 election: the need to participate and the major parties” that, “The democratic principle of contestation allows everyone the opportunity to now vote for or against their principles (and that of any other party) and this will make a difference especially as we stand in the era where the dominance of the ANC and therefore the one-party system in South Africa is beginning to falter.” Making an informed decision when it comes to casting your vote may seem intimidating given the limited experience most students have when it comes to elections. Independent political analyst Nicholas Borain told Perdeby that the best way to establish which party you will be voting for is to, “Read the manifestos, listen to the speeches, examine the character and history of those who lead the party and ask yourself if you have specific interests that are better represented by one party more than any other.” He goes on to add that you should also consider national interests that are broader than your own personal interests when you make this decision. Perdeby looked at the election manifestos of six major parties contesting the election. Agang SA Agang, led by anti-apartheid activist Dr Mamphela Ramphele, is a young party that was formed in February 2013. The name means “build” in Sesotho and according to AgangSA. org.za, Agang stands for a “clean government to restore the promise of freedom to all South Africans: equality, dignity and hope for all”. According to Borain, Agang presents itself as “a clear and articulate opponent to government corruption”.
ANC The ANC, founded in January 1912, is the oldest party participating in the elections. They have been the ruling party on a national level since 1994 and are currently being led by President Jacob Zuma. Their mission is to move South Africa forward as well as fight crime and corruption. Cope The Congress of the People, currently led by Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota, is a party that was formed in December 2008 by former ANC members. Their main objective is to “take political power at the polls and deliver better government to South Africa”. DA Lead by Helen Zille, the DA has been the official opposition to the ANC on a national level since the 1999 election (known then as the Democratic Party). The DA was founded in June 2000, and according to their website, they aim for an “open opportunity society in which every person is free, secure and equal, where everyone has the opportunity to improve the quality of his life and pursue her dreams, and in which every language and culture has equal respect and recognition”. EFF Founded in August 2013 by expelled ANC Youth League President Julius Malema, the EFF party seems to have divided ANC supporters. Borain said that, “The EFF is getting surprising traction and is fighting a vigorous and interesting campaign.” They aim to focus on revolutionary cultural values and to create conditions that ensure total political and economic emancipation. VF+ Lead by Pieter Mulder, the Freedom Front Plus (Vryheidsfront Plus) was founded in March 1994. Their mission is to realise the rights of the Afrikaans community. With the final list of political party candidates only being released on 22 April, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has more than 300 parties on their potential candidate list. It is because of this reason that you have to familiarise yourself with the major parties and their manifestos. The importance of voting cannot be stressed enough. Though some people may experience feelings of apathy towards politics or elections, casting your vote contributes to the future of South Africa and gives you the opportunity to make your voice heard. By excluding yourself from voting you are rejecting your right to have a say in how South Africa is governed.
Affirmative action Agang SA To amend discrimination and unfairness in the workplace and to enable white citizens to share their skills, expertise and wealth to build South Africa. ANC To strengthen the existing affirmative action laws for a faster transformation of the workplace and to strive for equal representation in the workplace according to population demographics. Cope To strengthen the application of affirmative action laws to include women, youth, and previously disadvantaged people from rural areas. DA To find a balance between affirmative action and equal opportunities for all, to improve BEE so that it rewards companies that invest in their workers and to create jobs. EFF To reinforce affirmative action laws to ensure that all previously disadvantaged citizens benefit and to prioritise the employment of people with disabilities, black people and women of all races. VF+ To scrap affirmative action to ensure that employment is based on merit and not race.
Education Agang SA To improve training for teachers and to introduce a minimum pass rate of 50% for all subjects and all grades. ANC To make two years of pre-school education compulsory, to eradicate adult illiteracy and to open two new universities. Cope To establish a national literacy campaign and to increase the minimum pass rate. DA To educate more than 15 000 teachers per year and to ensure that every school has basic resources and services as well as to align education outcomes with workplace needs and to expand NSFAS assistance. EFF To offer free quality education funded by an education tax on corporations and to develop and expand tertiary institutions. VF+ To provide mother-tongue education.
Employment Agang SA To emphasise skills training at school level, to establish skills development programmes and also fund on-the-job training. ANC To promote local procurement and to create six million job opportunities through job placement and internship schemes. Cope To support national development plans and to ensure that small and medium enterprises receive more support from government as well as to supply affordable loans to new enterprises. DA To attract investment in labour-intensive industries and to create seven million job opportunities through an expanded public works programme. EFF To secure industry development and to implement minimum wage. VF+ To actively restrict and prohibit strikes and to favour a wage subsidy.
Read about crime and corruption policies online.