SA’s adult democracy

When we observe Freedom Day on April 27, our democracy turns 18. Like the children born in that auspicious year 1994 – they are known as “Born Frees” – our democracy is becoming an adult. At its birth, democratic South Africa was admired around the world and great hopes were invested in it. Many of these hopes have been met.

South Africa produced a model for reconciliation, a strong Bill of Rights, a superb Constitution and several institutions designed to protect the citizen of the land. Our civil society is vibrant and strong, and our politicians are mostly committed to democracy. All of this has served to largely inoculate our democracy against the inevitable corruption of politics.

As our democratic state grew older, it frequently exhibited the petulance of youth, but it kept its bedroom relatively clean – though there is some dirt under the carpet, and a big hole in the floor created by the iniquitous arms deal (alas, the state has made little effort to fix it).

As our democracy moves into adulthood we may still expect signs of juvenile misjudgments. One of these is the government’s Protection of State Information Bill, which is intended to protect not only state security, but could also be abused to cover up corruption and incompetence. A crucial measure of a democracy’s health is the extent of the state’s transparency and accountability. The so-called Secrecy Bill fundamentally undercuts these principles.

Likewise, hints by President Jacob Zuma that the ANC would consider what it sees as reforms to the judiciary, should alarm us to be vigilant, even if judicial reform, instituted properly and for the right reasons, can be necessary and beneficial.

South Africa’s democracy, and the ability of the state to serve the people, is also weakened by the ceaseless factional struggles within the ruling African National Congress. More energy is being spent by politicians and leaders in the civil service on protecting turf and jockeying for position than on the function of governing. Moreover, once positions in the political landscape have been determined, the expectations of reward for being on the winning side and the prospect of isolation for backing the wrong side have a paralysing effect on government.

This is complicated by the ruling African National Congress’ paranoid lack of confidence in people outside the dominant faction (never mind outside the tripartite alliance), which means that too often unsuitable political appointees are deployed to important positions, especially in the judiciary, law enforcement and intelligence. South Africa is increasingly at risk of becoming a mediocracy.

Corruption is a visible disease on the body of our democracy. For all his resolute talk about battling corrupt practices in government, President Zuma has done very little to put his promises into action. Indeed, the effective demotion of Willie Hofmeyr, the former Head of the Special Investigating Unit, will have given the practitioners of corruption, fraud and cronyism much succour.

While the stability of South Africa’s economy is commendable, it has come at the cost of robbing the poor of hope. It is a sign of frailty in our democracy that the aspirations of the masses have been articulated most notably by a high-living populist demagogue.

Our young democracy is not aided by the absence of an opposition party with the capacity to challenge the ANC’s hegemony at the polls. Of all provinces, only the Western Cape has seen changes of government. Our democracy will be immeasurably strengthened when elections become true contests.

An electoral defeat might even strengthen the ANC, as a time in opposition would allow the party to clear out all the rot within – and it is a tribute to the party that South Africans expect that it would hand over power peacefully in the event of an election defeat.

As our democracy enters its adult years, South Africans must celebrate the sound freedoms which it guarantees, and commend those who have sustained it. At the same time, South Africans must remain vigilant for signs of democracy’s decay, and act against that when necessary.