on April 3, 2024
With our National Election coming up, questions about voting, its effectiveness and faith in democracy are everywhere- and rightfully so! These questions prompt us to carefully consider how best to actively contribute to our political system.
Contributing to our political system is not just a question of who we vote for; it is an invitation to vote, indeed, but to also remain active in civil society beyond the polls on a regular basis.
The Connect Group Team will be at the polls on the 29th May 2024, to cast our respective informed & personal votes, but we are also active in other ways and invite you to consider practicing your civil rights in these and other ways too.
Participate in Protest or Strike Action
Protest and strike action are effective forms of civil action because it interrupts society. We all know what it is like to experience unexpected traffic, detours, business closures, short-staff and even damage to property or, in extreme cases, damage to persons too! As a spectator, one feels frustrated by this as it interrupts our day, diminishes our productivity and leaves us feeling vulnerable. This, however, is exactly the point because we, the larger public, then pay attention to the cause and advocate for it to be addressed so day to day life may return. The economy suffers when protest or strike action occurs too, thus providing additional motivation for the cause to be addressed timeously and business to continue as per usual. Protests and strike action were integral to the ending of the Apartheid regime thus it is an integral part of the culture of political change in South Africa. Protest and strike action can seem a bit intimidating from a distance- perhaps that is because of the misconception that they are all violent – but protest and strike actions are more often peaceful than not. Let’s take our lead from the famous Black Sash Movement which to this day advocates for Human Rights in South Africa: https://www.blacksash.org.za/
Protests and Strike Action were integral to the ending of the Apartheid regime thus it is an integral part of the culture of political change in South Africa.
Stand Up Against Discrimination
Our country has an award winning Constitution in which a thorough and internationally recognized set of Human Rights are written. These rights unfortunately do not always translate into practice and as such, we stand by and, sometimes, even participate in many overt and covert forms of discrimination and human right violations. Active citizenship means to understand the Constitution of South Africa so you may advocate for it on both an individualized and macro level. It also looking out more diligently for human right violations, stepping in and saying ‘no’ thus protecting the individual and protecting our democracy. #notonmywatch!
It also looking out more diligently for human right violations, stepping in and saying ‘no’ thus protecting the individual and protecting our democracy. #notonmywatch!
Sign The Petition
Civil action is best through a collective voice. Petitions are examples of the collective quietly, yet assertively and confidently, proving that a viewpoint is popular enough to represent the majority and thus be considered for review at a parliamentary level. Don’t believe in the power of the petition? Check-out these significant examples of Petitions which worked!
Convinced now? Then consider adding your voice to the collective via https://www.change.org/t/south-africa-en-gb or https://afriforum.co.za/en/actions-and-petitions/page/3/ or apply for your own petition using this guide.
Petitions are examples of the collective quietly, yet assertively and confidently, proving that a viewpoint is populous enough to represent the majority and thus be considered for review at a parliamentary level.
Volunteer or Donate Goods & Services to Civil Society
Democracy means we all have our say but it also means we all need to do our part. Our political system partners with the public through tenders and civil society to service our population. You too are invited to partner with government through donation of services and goods and volunteering in the civil society sector. No political party, individual or business can make sustainable change in South Africa alone, but the collective can. So whether it be animal welfare, gender-based rights, children, adoption and fostering, food security, housing or employment, identify an issue that you feel you can contribute to and then get volunteering! Matching skills and services to organisations and individuals in need is forgood does! Check them out to see how you can make a difference: https://www.forgood.co.za/za
No political party, individual or business can make sustainable change in South Africa alone, but the collective can.
Stay Informed
It is so important that we keep up to date with the latest and legitimate political information shared with the public. Staying up to date doesn’t just mean reading and believing the ‘single story’ that any given political party or ‘side’ offers you; it means authenticating the source, critically reflecting on the contents and, perhaps, even comparing it to an alternative view or two. This way you are ensuring you are most accurately informed and do not fall victim to clever marketing and propaganda which may serve you but (unknowingly) disadvantage other people groups in South Africa.
Staying up to date doesn’t just mean reading and believing the ‘single story’ that any given political party or ‘side’ offers you; it means authenticating the source, critically reflecting on the contents and, perhaps, even comparing it to an alternative view or two…
Educate Yourself & Others
Once you are informed yourself, we encourage robust political conversation and debate where appropriate. Talking about politics, normalizing that individuals are likely to hold different opinions and maintaining a listening ear is essential to people hearing and then internalizing their own civil responsibility. Taking political conversation to the braai amongst friends over the weekend is not taboo. Furthermore, informed individuals are encouraged to educate their children, and even develop curriculums for schools promoting healthy civil responsibility and knowledgeable voting in the home and schools too.
Once you are informed yourself, we encourage robust political conversation and debate where appropriate.
Shop Conscientiously
We often unintentionally sustain human right violations through our own ignorance. Being informed about the products we buy, where and how they are produced is an example of conscious and political awareness which can change the problematic production processes which often violate human and animal rights. If enough people know about the right violations associated with a particular organization, product or leader, they can ‘strike’ their support thus damaging the reputation and economic sustainability of the organization, forcing the company’s hand in changing their ways to avoid bankruptcy.
Being informed about the products we buy and where and how they are produced is an example of conscious and political awareness which can change the problematic production processes which often violate human and animal rights.
Know Your Ward Council and Attend Meetings
The space where one has the most impact is within their immediate neighborhood. Instead of having a quiet moan about the state of the neighborhood at family dinner, express your concerns through the channels provided. Know who your ward councilor is, respond to requests for community input and attend community meetings as arranged by the councilor and sub-committee. For more information on submitting complaints, compliments and attending meetings, visit: https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Get-involved/attend/attend-a-subcouncil-meeting
Instead of having a quiet moan about the state of the neighborhood at family dinner, express your concerns through the channels provided.
It’s not secret that South Africa is a country that needs change, and you are the vessel to that change! We understand that you undertaking all of the above may be overwhelming, so we encourage you to start small and pick one or two that feel achievable – every action counts and brings us one step closer to a better South Africa.