SA Political Participation Flashcards
Intro
South Africa been democracy since apartheid, when it ended SA made a constitution which has to be upheld when making new laws and and influence big decisions within parliament such as voting. Voting is essential allowing democratic participation with everyone over 18 being able to vote every 5 years in a GE. This essay will discuss
Protesting
SA has been dubbed the protest capital of the world as it has one of the highest rates of public protests. 2 million SAs take to the streets every year to protest. The high amount of protest is able to influence the govt shows democratic participation by being allowed to protest. However it has been claimed that people’s right to protests has been infringed by the increasing authoritarian govt. for example in 2022 police killed 4 in Johannesburg during cost of electricity protest. This shows protests can lead to death making less people wanting to protest decreasing democratic participation. Overall it important factor as public can inflict significant influence with protest but these can lead to violence
Voting
SA use party list system, encourages voting as votes correspond to seat % which means there are less wasted votes compared to other systems. Eg in the 2019 ge there were 48 parties on ballot paper, more parties make more feel well represented making more vote= more democratic participation. However the choice is limited as the dominance of the ANC with them winning every ge since apartheid end causing voter turnout to decrease cause of inevitability. Overall is essential in democracy, nothing other than age holding back voters allowing widespread democratic participation. Feel represented. ANC dominance.
Constitutional Court
Explain the court. Eg. 3 men brought a case to the court arguing a law that banned cannabis violated their right to privacy. And the court ruled that it should be made legal. The parliament ended up changing the law showing the participation as any citizen can go to the court and out a case forward. However the law is rarely changed. Been very few cases that have reached the court. Limiting involvement. Overall important factor. Being accessible to all citizens to be involved in the political system, can make changes, however to make real case need to be qualified lawyer and good amount of money
Conclusion
All factors are important. Factors come with problems, protesters being killed, resulting in less wanting to protest limiting participation, many seeing the vote as inevitable. Most important is constitutional court more democratic than other countries as citizens can make changes in their political system
