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Making Local Government Work for Young People in SA
04 April 2016
Final registration weekend is looming ahead of us. The South African Election Commission (IEC) set the 9th and 10th April 2016 between 8h00 and 17h00 as the last registration weekend for an opportunity for all South Africans to partake in the coming Local Government elections. However, there is more story to that than what meet the eye, young people are getting involved and here is how they doing it. Mcebisi tells a story of his experience of how interacting with the IEC in an effort to encourage young people to register to vote was frustrating but fruitful.
In March 2016 young people were gathered at Kraaifontein at Bloekombos Primary School, they invited the IEC with the hope that they were going to be informed about voter education and why it is important for one to vote. Looking at the statistics it has proved it to us that the percentage of young people who participated in the elections goes down each and every year when there are elections. In fact they have had enough about politicians and political parties who do not care about the interests of the people on the grass-root level. Politicians who care about enriching themselves and uplifting the lives of their families.
Last year, Darren Marshall and Mcebisi Ntozinde joined a group under Educo-Africa named as “Making the Local Government Work” an initiative by Educo Trust of Africa. They got so inspired after they were given tasks to get to know their Local Ward Councilors and after conducting interviews with young people they realized a number of people do not vote and even those who do, do not know why they are voting and some are compelled by their parents to vote. They (Darren and Mcebisi) thought voter education is of great importance and therefore tried to contact the Western Cape IEC after they were given a task to influence young people to participate in the coming Municipal Elections.
So, with the information that they were given at the beginning of this year, when an IEC official came to facilitate a workshop with them. For the first time they heard that there are people working for the IEC getting paid each and every month doing voter education and municipal outreach co-ordination. They then thought it would be of great importance that they collaborate or work hand in hand with the people assuming those positions as they may provide them with the relevant information.
They then tried to contact an IEC office situated in Athlone, Cape Town and they were then referred to contact someone at Constantia. That according to them did not go well, as they had issues with the Secretary or whoever who is working as a Receptionist there. They thought that it will be best if they visit the Athlone office themselves, then a gentleman working there called the lady at Constantia and gave her their numbers. We briefed her about the concept and the campaign that we are planning to do, which is influencing and encouraging young people to participate in the coming Municipal Elections. She then gave them a number of the lady that they may contact or the lady that is doing voter education in their respective communities, which is Delft and Kraaifontein.
On the same day they (Mcebisi and Darren) had to travel to Bellville and talk to this lady in person in trying to make their campaign a success. However, things did not go as they anticipated because they were told that they could not be provided with the PowerPoint presentation but IEC can give them one of their facilitators to do voter education in their respective communities. Then while the facilitator was facilitating the workshop they could take notes on the other side.
On the 17th of March the Voter Education Facilitator came and according to him the right to vote is a democratic right protected in S19 (3) of the South African Constitution and in accordance with that provision it is provided that every adult, meaning everyone at the age of 18 and above is legally allowed to vote and can do it secretly. This provision also provides that one can stand for a public office or assume a public seat after being elected. He further said that it is of great importance to vote because if one does not then they are denying or abandoning their right as protected in the constitution.
According to Mcebisi and Darren this was an attempt in trying to change the face of democracy in this country. They are saying, they will mobilize young people to occupy all spaces for youth development purposes and to influence the decision making process in all structures in their communities. They are planning on having representatives starting from street committees going up to the City of Cape Town. In their last words, they want to thank Educo-Africa, a youth empowerment organization that made them to realize and discover the greatness within them.
Written by
Mcebisi Ntozinde
Youth coordinator at Senza Umahluko
UWC Bachelor of Laws Student
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