The ANC’s actions in Tlokwe are very worrying for our future

The story of independence in Africa seems to run along similar lines: white oppression, local uprising, bitter-fighting, freedom, followed by corrupt officials, failure of the state, collapse of the democratic system. Being a proud South African I do not believe our story will be the same, but recent events have raised my concerns. Recently the African National Congress (ANC) Mayor in Tlokwe (previously Potchefstroom) was ousted for the second time. In a sitting of the council a vote of no-confidence was called for and the mayor was voted out unanimously by members of the council and the replacement was Prof Annette Combrink from the Democratic Alliance (DA). This has been seen as a major victory for the DA and a major embarrassment for the ANC. Through a democratic process a mayor was ousted and a new mayor put in place. 20 years on in our democracy this should not be a shock or something difficult to digest; this is democracy in action. However, when the new mayor and her team arrived at the mayoral office they were told they were not welcome, as the ex-mayor was not leaving. It turns out that the ANC, the ruling party in our country, have instructed the ousted mayor and his team not to vacate their positions. The ANC have blatantly ignored due-democratic process and obstructed the rule of law. This is an unbelievable disgrace, one for which the ANC should be ashamed and for which we should all be worried, and angry about. If this is how the central ANC acts over a small region like Tlokwe, I shudder to think how they would respond should they lose a national election. Elections are coming up soon, use your democratic voice and vote to ensure that our story of freedom is different to the rest of Africa.

We don’t want South Africa to be anything like Egypt

Egypt’s revolution last year is now seriously in question; the Egyptian army has stormed the capital and deposed the elected President by military coup. This is a major setback for democracy in that country and a poor example for the rest of Africa. As a result of this I have heard many young South Africans say that we should do the same here; just overthrow the government. It is obvious that many people are unhappy with the government, but to say that we should do what the Egyptians have done is incredibly worrying. Citizens of a country will only force a change of government through demonstration or the army, when they no longer trust the systems in place to protect their rights. The environment this creates is ripe for civil war. South Africa has a credible election process with a respected Independent Electoral Commission. Every South African over the age of 18, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation has the right to vote, in secret. It took decades of hard-work, sacrifice, dedication, and many lost lives to win this right for all South Africans. As a result of this we have a credible government that was put in place by the will of the people. If the population of South Africa wants a change they have the power to change it with the simple ‘cross’ in a box. I cannot claim to have a full understanding of politics in Egypt, but what I do know is that the military has take over in Egypt is very worrying. We do not need this, or want this, to happen in South Africa. If we do not like our government, we have the power to change it with our vote. Get out and vote.