SA Participation Essay

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Some would argue that the most effective way to participate in democracy within SA is through voting. However, protests and trade unions are also effective methods but they have some limitations. Ultimately this response will show why voting is the most effective way to participate in democracy.

Question 2

Protesting

Describe

Answer 2

In South Africa the democratic constitution allows for freedom of speech and protesting for what you believe in. Through the protesting the protestors can gain media attention which can help share their cause and alert the Government of the ongoing protests. From the awareness created around the protests, the Government can see how many people are involved in the protest, which can influence the government to seek out changes in order to improve their popularity as well as their power within SA, as they seek out to please their potential future voters.

Question 3

Protesting

Example

Answer 3

For example, in 2016, the largest student protests since the end of apartheid eventually led to the government scrapping university tuition fees for those from families with a combined income of less than 350,000 rand a year.

Question 4

Protesting

Analysis

Answer 4

This shows that the media attention that the protestors gain often helps them gain awareness and likens their chances of the government appealing to their requests, making the protest successful. However, this constitutional right is not always protected or respected by the Government and Police.

Question 5

Protesting - violence

Describe

Answer 5

SA has a long history of using violence during protests since Soweta in 1960. Specifically in the Student Protests more recently have grown more violent and express more police brutality towards the students who were originally peacefully protesting. After the Apartheid, the education system had adjusted to some extent however education still wasn’t as easily accessible to everyone in SA.

Question 6

Protesting - violence

Example

Answer 6

For example, four SAPS members were acquitted of the charge of killing Mthokozisi Ntumba. Ntumba, 35, died on 10 March 2021 after being shot with rubber bullets while leaving his doctor’s rooms.

Question 7

Protesting - violence

Analysis

Answer 7

This shows that even when the protests began as peaceful, through the police’s involvement in trying to handle the situation, the protests became violent and caused serious harm to the protestors as well as bystanders who weren’t involved.

Question 8

Protesting

Link back

Answer 8

This means that participating in the SA democracy by the constitutional right to protest is to some extent unsuccessful in allowing political participation. This is because the historical context shows that these protests cause much more risk to participants and bystanders’ lives, through the involvement of the police force. However, protests are partially effective as through the protests many changes have been made in response to the actions/purpose of the protests.

Question 9

Voting

Describe

Answer 9

Through voting, you have the freedom to choose who you want to be in power, and don’t have to follow anyone else’s opinions if they don’t align with what you believe in. In South Africa, there is a large variety of political parties in which they can choose from, as there are 48 political parties however only 13 are in the national assembly.

Question 10

Voting

Example

Answer 10

For example, the African National Congress is the most popular political party within South Africa, following with the Democratic Alliance party as the second most popular political party. The winner of the 2019 election was the African National Congress party which had 230 seats.However, the second place political party was the Democratic Alliance party which had 84 seats.

Question 11

Voting

Analysis

Answer 11

This shows that there is a stable democracy in SA where citizens can fully participate in choosing and selecting the political party that will represent them the best, which means that the party in power was voted by people in many different lifestyles and covered the majority of South Africa’s opinions on who should be in power.

Question 12

Voting - not everyone votes

Describe

Answer 12

When the majority of the public decide not to vote in the national elections, the results become biassed and do not show an accurate representation of who the public truly want to be in power over the country. This can often lead to a lack of representation for other parties as they may not receive the chance to gain power if those who choose to vote are biassed towards another party.

Question 13

Voting - not everyone votes

Example

Answer 13

For example, in the 2014 election, the African National Congress had won 249 seats, whereas in 2019 they had won 230 seats. This meant that the party had lost 19 seats.

Question 14

Voting - not everyone votes

Analysis

Answer 14

This shows that over the years the public has lost interest in politics and no longer cares about the turnout of the national elections, meaning that there isn’t truly an equal representation of who the public want in power.

Question 15

Voting

Link back

Answer 15

To some extent voting has allowed the public participation in national elections, however due to not many people exercising their right to vote the results of the election often leave parties with fewer votes than normal as the upcoming generation no longer find interest in politics, and therefore do not exercise their right to vote.

Question 16

Trade Union

Describe

Answer 16

A trade union is a group of employees who join together to maintain and improve their conditions of employment. Within South Africa, the trade unions often campaign for better pay and better employment opportunities for those within the trade unions. COSATU is the biggest trade union within South Africa.

Question 17

Trade Union

Example

Answer 17

For example, in 2017, the COSATU went on a national strike in protest against state capture, where the members of the strike went on marches on important buildings, such as banks and city halls.

Question 18

Trade Union

Analysis

Answer 18

This shows that due to the Trade Union taking action and going to these important buildings, this forced the Government to consider what the trade unions were asking for and would retaliate either in opposition to the trade unions or rather in favour of the unions.

Question 19

Trade Union - ineffective

Describe

Answer 19

Ramaphosa is the leader of the NUM and was a former trade union advocate, which leads us to the assumption that there is an alliance between the current president and COSATU. The close relationship between ANC and trade unions means that it is very unlikely to be achieved if the trade unions are very close allies with the government.

Question 20

Trade Union - ineffective

Example

Answer 20

For example, the Marikana massacre was the killing of thirty-four miners by SAPS on 16 August 2012. The massacre on 16 August was the result of the decision by SAPS forcibly to disperse the striking mineworkers, who throughout the week had gathered on a public hilltop neighbouring the mine.

Question 21

Trade Union - ineffective

Analysis

Answer 21

This shows that due to the lack of attention that other trade unions groups get, they feel as though they need to take extreme actions in order to be heard by the ANC, however these action swayed the government to avoid making any decision in favour of the trade union as they do not want to be associated with their violent behaviour.

Question 22

Trade Union

Link back

Answer 22

Participation in the SA democracy is to some extent unsuccessful in allowing political participation through trade unions. This is because due to the alliance made between the ANC and COSATU it is unlikely that change can happen for every union and any person in SA as the ANC will only work in favour of their alliances.

Question 23

Conclusion