Redefine Democracy

We are being fooled into believing that we are living in an democratic state. In reality, we are living in an hegemonic state where the ideologies of the dominant state are being forced upon us. The majority elect "leaders" into governance to represent everyone but it seems that the it is only a handful that are represented. It is those "comrades" who benefit from this kind of society and those who are not "comrades" are deemed insignificant to society.Looking at the way Student Representation is at Universities, I feel comfortable to express such opinion about politics and democracy in South Africa.

South Africa is a country with a rich but painful history. The majority- because of the colour of their skin- was prejudiced against, oppressed and had their human rights violated by the minority who foolish believed they were superior. Historical legends such as Stephen Bantu Biko, Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela (through significant organisations such as the ANC and SASO) fought the struggle of equality against the racist and oppressing governance of the apartheid era of Hendrik Frensh Verwoerd. Men and Women fought with their lives to bring about the radical change South Africa so desperately needed. In 1994, with the election of the ANC as the ruling party and Mandela being President, the nation saw a brighter future.

That future has once again grown dim. All that was fought for during the struggle has been forgotten. This premise has been proven by how student governance has transformed into since 1994. Now, we place individuals, through what we think are democratic processes, into governance to represent us and ensure that our rights as students are not infringed. Instead, elected leaders use their positions to pursue personal and/or organisational interests and forget that their priority should be the students. We (students) are told to "vote" for those who we would like to govern and represent us but if the result does not suit the mandate of the dominant organisation, hegemonic power will be enforced to change the results to resemble the mandate as was the case at the University of Kwa-Zulu- PMB.

When the elected Student Representative Council voted for Malusi Gwala to be President of the Council (differing the wishes of the SASCO and ANC Youth League Mandate: Kwazikwenkosi Mshengu), Central SRC of the University- which is made up of only SASCO and Youth League members only)- pressured the Council to change their vote. If the people express their faith in an individual through democratic procedures then are the people not supposed to get that specific individual to lead. If the dominant power is going to question the voice of the majority and deploy their own choice, then why vote? Why let us live in the illusion that we are "free" and that elections are fair? Why not then define what democracy is so that we all have a common definition? Because why decieve us and tell us we have the power to elect when in reality, it is the handful who strive to fulfil their personal agendas through political structures who have the vote.