On May 8 2014, we published an article titled #Elections2014: What We’ve Learnt. Yeah. We’d seen a whole lot.
The thrills and spills of election season had us out of breath, in a tizz and trying hard to re-establish some sense of normalcy. At the heart of this was the realisation that we were now at the beginning of yet another 5 year cycle of national governance. A 5 year period that would be complete with the usual controversies, DA-ANC squabbles and racially charged and inequality of so what had the conversations, we about what would be on our agenda going into. Here an excerpt from the article —>
1. The ANC is not Jacob Zuma
The negative media scrutiny showered on Jacob Zuma’s head over Nkandla in the run-up to the elections seems to have impacted more on Jacob Zuma’s individual ratings over those of the ANC proper. It’s why 100 000 people streamed into the FNB Stadium for the Siyanqoba rally on 4 May and a total of 40 stayed for his speech. Though anger remains over the implementation of e-tolls and even the Marikana Massacre, the DA & EFF’s strategy of campaigning directly against Jacob Zuma seem to have subliminally isolated his persona from that of the party, making him the fall guy for the crimes of corruption and accountability many in the ANC NEC and larger party are guilty of. Within the context of a country that still needs significant shifts in economic transformation and where racist attitudes such as those of Warren Blakeman still exist however, the majority of SA’s electorate still identify the ANC as the only party that broadly identifies with their concerns and challenges. More on Warren Blakeman below. Shortly before voting on Wednesday afternoon, Sindiso Mnyeza, a 29 year-old broadcast professional from Sandton, said “It took 400 years for our freedoms to be taken away, why should we only give the ANC 20 years to change that? They need more time,” she later continued, “Zuma is an individual with problems, but the ANC is bigger than that.”
The other things we learnt are listed as:
2. Don’t Believe The (Media) Hype
3. Our politics have been realigned. Somewhat.
4. Race (still) haunts the complexion of our politics
5. South African democracy (politics) is more alive than ever
Check out the full article, published on May 8th, here —> elections2014-5-things-learnt/
So how many of the 5 things we learnt on election day have already been confirmed, disproved or proven true? Which of these five? The most accurate post-election prediction we made #LivEVIPZA has to be the impact of Juju’s EFF on parliamentary proceedings. Especially inspiring a spike in interest in parliament from young people. On point 5 of #Elections2014: 5 Things We Learnt, we predicted that parliament would never be the same again with the EFF around. Aaaaaaaaaaaand, surprise. Julius and co showed up for parliament’s swearing-in ceremony dressed in bright red maids’ and miners’ uniforms. Complete with doeks & aprons for the ladies and gumboots and helmets for the gents. Radical. Things escalated very quickly during Malema’s speech at during the post-SONA debate when he refused to withdraw a statement he made about the ANC killing the 34 miners wholos their lives during the Marikana tragedy. Malema and co staged a walk-out when Malema given the ultimatum to withdraw or leave the chambers. Soon after this made major headlines, we hit the streets to find out how young folk felt about Malema’s impactful presence in parliament. Check it out on this video produced by Aphiwe Pasiya. —>
Which of the points in #Elections2014: 5 Things We Learnt strike you most?
Tell us. #LiveVIPZA
The #2014Elections has set an exciting and vibrant context for the future of South Africa politics to unfold upon. What happens now that you’ve voted? How do we gauge whether we’re “moving the country forward”, whether we’re “bringing change” or “economic freedom in our lifetime”? Stick with #LiveVIPZA and we’ll give you analysis, debates, comments, polls and all YOU need to understand, enjoy and interact with SA politics.
