Voters feel the effect of poor governance and corruption and are taking matters into their own hands
ActionSA president Herman Mashaba speaks at a campaign event in Johannesburg. Picture: GALLO IMAGES/LUBA LESOLLEIn the late 1980s, as head of SA’s consulate in Frankfurt, I convinced foreign affairs and the Transvaal provincial administration, after initial opposition, to send delegations of black municipalities consisting of councillors, civic organisations and ANC members in exile to Germany to learn from the German model.
This unconventional project ended in the early 1990s with the dawn of democracy. However, the results of the recent local government elections fill me with hope, since they indicate that real democracy is taking root at grass-roots level. Voters feel the effect of poor governance and corruption on their communities and are now taking matters into their own hands through the ballot.
The success of ActionSA and the GOOD party are prime examples. They have drawn support from the traditional parties across party and colour divides. SA is slowly shaking off the patterns of the past, and it is happening at grass-roots level. It is already causing a rethink among the bigger parties at national level.
Co-operation across party lines in the shape of coalition politics has become unavoidable. It is the most positive by-product of the election outcome. Political blinkers are coming off.JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an e-mail with your comments. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Send your letter by e-mail to
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