Hold government accountable

By Fr Victor Phalana

Congratulations to the Independent Electoral Commission for running a truly free and fair elections. The African National Congress’ campaign paid off the tripartite alliance. They might have used vouchers and food parcels, but their campaign was robust, appealing to both young and old alike in spite of all the issues surrounding  President-elect Jacob Zuma.

Why did the ANC do so well in these elections? This is what I believe is going on: the majority of South African voters made a clear statement that the only party which should enjoy their mandate is one which has good struggle credentials. The ANC appeals to the poor. They see in the ANC an organisation which is committed to the eradication of absolute poverty.  They believe in an ANC-led government, which already has changed the lives of many.

The ANC is a brand. Nelson Mandela continues to inspire this movement and has shown himself to be committed to the ANC in spite of all its challenges and failures. This commitment of Mr Mandela  and other struggle veterans continues to inspire many, especially the youth. The ANC is strong and has received a clear mandate to govern this country in the next five years.

What is the ANC going to do with its overwhelming majority? It is my hope that they will use it to work hard at unifying the nation. This was Mr Mandela’s dream and it must be treasured. The ANC government must work hard to deal with crime.

They must also follow their manifesto to the letter, keeping their promises. The ANC promised to look at the issue of job creation and to deal with corruption. They promised free education from primary to tertiary levels. They promised a whole lot of things to many people. Now is the time to deliver.

We must expect them to continue to promote our beautiful multi-party system. We would like them to work together with the churches in realising their agenda for South Africa.

Likewise, the Democratic Alliance must be expected to work together with other parties for the good of all people of the Western Cape. It is time that the Western Cape gets a stable government, able to deal with the issues of drugs and the housing backlog.

It is my prayer that the Congress of the People (Cope), which managed to get over 6% in its first election, will go on to strengthen the opposition in  this country.

What about other smaller parties? This is a time for them to see if they are still relevant to the situation of our country. Why don’t they merge? For example, all Black Consciousness political parties could merge and become one.

From the ANC, we ask magnanimity and graciousness in their victory. Let them remember that they are accountable to the electorate. We must hold them accountable. Let them empower our municipalities who are responsibility for most of service delivery.

Fr Victor Phalana heads the Justice & Peace Commission of the archdiocese of Pretoria.