For people to stand for the political leadership positions like ward counsellor, mayor, it is for the good of the public and to serve the people.
South Africa has been a witness of many political infights that has brought a lot of people to question whether they are in these positions for personal gains or for the job is actually about.
According to a political analyst Professor Sethulago Matebesi in most instances in South Africa, some people stand for these positions because they carry power and status that at times does not serve in the interest of the people.
“Unfortunately the power that these people get out of these positions, the acquired status of being a mayor and a counsellor, leads to many other issues, which unfortunately doesn't serve the public good. That is too much power, access to resources, like for instance, now suddenly a counsellor can manipulate appointments, a counsellor will have input into appointments, but also where some of these political appointees play a critical role in directing where certain tenders can go and all that,” he said.
Adding that this also happens as a result of the high unemployment rate that the country is currently battling.
“its just perhaps an opportunity, a genuine opportunity for employment. So we cannot say all people join, or want to become counsellors because they are corrupt, or they want to advance their own.”
Matebesi also menstioned that others join these kinds of positions, or raise their hands, because they want to improve the well-being of the residents.
He emphasized that this has inherent challenges, for the local government elections, because it then creates an unstable environment.
“Political parties must be explicit, in terms of how they will navigate, around this particular issue, its one thing to have rules and regulations, which is in any case on paper, but you also need the caliber of leaders, that demonstrates to their followers, that they forever are respecting, the principles of democracy.”
According to another political analyst, Ongama Mtimka, intraparty rivalry has been biggest source of concern.
“Although South Africa holds generally free, fair, and peaceful elections, unfortunately intraparty rivalry has been biggest source of concern in particular hotspots as a result of, unemployment in general and lack of opportunities and also as a result of the highstakes that the offices of councilors hold as points of distribution for patronage networks,” he said
Adding that for the internal fights that take place, some of them are enabled by parties that have a facade of democracy.
To survive the high unemployment rate in the country, it seems that for some, the only way out is to become a political leader and assume power that would open doors for them and guarantee a safe future.
