Election Time: What are people saying?
by Sean van Staden SJ
The Jesuit Institute recently released a video entitled South Africa Elections 2024: What are People Saying? (Watch it here). In the video, a range of South Africans were asked three questions: What are your hopes and dreams for South Africa? What are your disappointments with South Africa? How will you decide how to vote in this year’s election?
The video was produced to give an opportunity for people to share their thoughts about the country, to allow others to hear and reflect upon these thoughts, and to spark a conversation about how we go about deciding how to vote.
South Africans dream of a society characterised by equality, opportunity, justice and peace. They want a fair distribution of the nation’s resources, empathetic and competent leaders, quality education and meaningful employment, safety, and to live in peace, unity, and harmony despite our differences.
South Africans have so many disappointments with the country at the moment. Many feel that those they have entrusted with the care of the country have failed us. There is rampant corruption, selfishness and self-enrichment.
Consequently, there is a failure of basic service delivery: water, electricity, healthcare, education, policing, justice, and urban cleanliness. Drug abuse and crime are disturbing and destabilising our communities.
We desire equality and opportunity but find inequality and poverty. We want opportunity but find a failing economy. We want justice and peace but find corruption and conflict.
How, then, shall we decide how to vote in this year’s election? Some reckon that this may be our most important and most difficult election since 1994.
Most responded that they will evaluate party manifestos and consider the track records of those who have had an opportunity to govern. They will consider how parties hope to achieve their promises and how they will involve us in this process. Some feel that their decision will be based on choosing the least bad candidate. Others will vote by loyalty.
One respondent said, “When someone wants to help people, he tells people the truth. When someone wants to help himself, he tells people what they want to hear.” Which party or candidate is telling us the truth?
Many stressed the importance of prayer and discernment in choosing who to vote for. People want guidance from God when making this important decision.
The responses given in the video reflect a country that has high ideals and hopes. We dream of a united and prosperous nation, one that we can be proud to call home. However, there is a strong sense of disappointment and disillusionment. Simply too much is not working as it should, to the detriment of ordinary people. We have a responsibility to participate in the running of our societies and voting is one way that we can do so.
As we approach the elections, we may want to ask ourselves these same three questions. What are my hopes and dreams for South Africa? What are my disappointments with South Africa? How am I going to decide how to vote on 29 May 2024?
