With fewer than 100 days until South Africans head to the polls for the local government elections, attention is once again turning to the country’s agricultural communities. The focus is on participation in voter registration and ensuring farmers, farmworkers and rural residents actively participate in the democratic process.
With political parties launching their election manifestos, it remains to be seen which party speaks the language of farmers and the sector as a whole.
Top on the agenda for the sector is infrastructure, particularly roads in farming communities, unreliable water supply, ageing water treatment plants and many other challenges.
An expert on governance systems in the public sector, Dr Harlan Cloete from the University of Free State (UFS), said communities are unable to stomach excuses anymore. He said basic services are a core of local government failure and could lead to citizens not participating in elections.
Voter participation is key
“Elections are very important, but I think even more important is the participation of communities after the elections. We have a constitutional democracy where our rights are guaranteed, and we have a representative democracy where people have an opportunity every five years to have local representatives.
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“We also have participatory democracy where we participate in policy making and affairs of local government; however, if we look at the track record of participation, it is largely compliance-driven and not really a genuine participation where communities feel that they do not have a say in the budgeting and prioritisation of services,” he explained.
Cloete said communities needed to exercise their voice, including those living in agricultural spaces like farms, and the first step is to be registered.
“We are going to have an increase in coalition government. In 2021, we had over 70 coalitions in the local sphere of government. After this election, we will even have more.
“South Africans must tighten their seat belts because what people want is pragmatism, people want solutions. They are not going to give one party 50% plus one majority, and the future is cooperation. Collaboration is working with people you do not even like or agree with or trust,” he said.
Rural communities can make their voice heard
A grain farmer turned mayor of Mafube local municipality in the Free State, Phaladi Matsole, said it is vital that farming communities take part in election processes, starting with registering to vote.
“I think this is an important phase in the lives of communities, that they take part because it is where they are able to strengthen democracy, influence community developments, choose accountable and ethical leaders and have a say in local services.
“Councillors with ethical leadership will be able to advocate rural community safety, reliable electricity supply and fair allocation of water permits to farmers, proper roads for farmers and fair supply for other services,” he said.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has called on South Africans to exercise their rights in the coming local government elections in the 23 699 voting stations. This weekend is the final chance to register for the election.
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