THE local government election campaign season is=20 getting underway. Thankfully, this should bring a=20 shift of focus: from arcane debates about=20 boundaries to the issues and the candidates. Who,=20 in short, one should vote for. On what basis should=20 one make one’s choice: historical party loyalty or=20 the best available individual?=20
While this election is hardly less important than=20 last year’s first-ever national democratic poll, it=20 will, one hopes, be viewed by voters in a pragmatic=20 vein rather than as another freedom vote. The point=20 is not to bring change, to throw out the old, to=20 signal a welcoming of the new, but to ensure that=20 those who control our local goverment are those who=20 can most effectively deliver services, get rid of=20 corruption and unify racially separated areas.=20
Hopefully, most voters will base their decisions on=20 simple assessments of which candidate will work=20 hard, avoid corruption and best represent their=20 interests, rather than fall for the temptation of a=20 Pavlovian response to long-standing party=20
For example, in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs,=20 voters should have no hesitation in supporting=20 those candidates most firmly opposed to the=20 outrageous plan to develop Zoo Lake and rid the=20 city of one of its few well-used, communal green=20 lungs. That’s what matters in that area — not the=20 long-standing national and historical political=20 disputes between parties.=20
There will be those who — out of confusion, or a=20 desire to signal disillusionment with the pace of=20 delivery — will be tempted to opt out and not=20 participate. Indeed, Pundits will be watching=20 carefully the percentage polls which would reflect=20 this since many of those who may feel frustrated=20 with the central government’s conduct will still=20 find it hard to vote for parties other than the=20 African National Congress and will feel inclined to=20 express this by staying at home on voting day.=20
This is an ineffectual response. For one thing, it=20 will not help speed up delivery. It might actually=20 slow it down, since effective local government=20 structures are crucial to the implementation of the=20 Reconstruction and Development Programme.=20
And it ignores the importance of solid, credible=20 and effective local government structure to the=20 establishment of a democratic ethos beyond=20