Analyse the different political opportunities that exist for people to influence decision making (12 marks)

Question 1

introduction

Answer 1

Since the end of apartheid in South Africa, all citizens now have the right to participate in politics. This essay will analyse the opportunities for people to influence decision making in South Africa.

Question 2

voting

Answer 2

POSITIVE
- In SA, all citizens now have right to vote, there is wide range of political parties they can choose from. In 2024, the seventh free and fair election was held since the end of apartheid
NEGATIVE
- can be said that voting in South Africa is futile, as it is a ‘one party state’ which is dominated by the ANC
- In most recent election, ANC received 40% of the vote, first time they have received less than 50% of the vote: suggests support for ANC is declining, also suggest that voter participation is declining
- black electoral participation less than its white counterparts. For example, Limpopo: a province with 96% of its citizens black, voting turnout was just 54%. This can be compared to voter turnout in Western Cape where 32.5% of the population is black and voter turnout was higher at 58%: suggests white people more likely to vote than black people

Question 3

protesting

Answer 3

POSITIVE
- protesting now very common within country due to severe socioeconomic inequality in SA
- In 2019, thousands of South African women protested against rise in sexual violence country, protest received recognition from President Cyril Ramphosa, who stated that levels of GBV “are comparable to countries that are at war”.
NEGATIVE
- crucial example of dangers of protesting within SA was incident in Marikana, involved miners on strike and protesting for increase in wages, then brutally murdered by the police
- constitution protects right to life of everyone, including criminal suspects and each miner who took part in events at Marikana, brutal murder of South African citizens demonstrates how flawed country and its authority is

Question 4

interest groups

Answer 4

• With ANC heavily dominating SA and voting being regarded as pointless, particularly amongst youngsters, joining an interest group is positive way of influencing democracy
• For example, AfriForum is South African civil rights group with 250,000 members, group aims to protect and advanceinterest of minority groups such as Afrikaners in public debates and civil actions
• AfriForum promote the protection of Afrikaner culture and have opposed affirmative action which it considers to be form of discrimination
• AfriForum have had successes, includingfounding of a disaster fund to help community members and farmers after collapsing of a dam wall at Jagersfontein