South African politics are clearly maturing as the country grapples with consolidating democracy.
Compared with the political violence that racked the country in 1994 and the acrimonious relations between parties in 1999, there are positive signs that things are changing for the better.
Interparty relations are much more tension-free and there is no apprehension that the 2004 election is under threat.
Of course, the spectre of resurgent political violence in KwaZulu-Natal is disturbing, but even this is really not a serious issue.
The security forces are by all accounts adequately prepared to deal with any problems in that province.
Most significantly, political parties around the country and specifically in KwaZulu-Natal have committed themselves to act responsibly by signing a code of conduct.
Codes of conduct do not guarantee peace, but at least this shows an obligation to play by the rules.
However, the vitriolic verbal attacks by some politicians against their adversaries are cause for worry and they emphatically indicate the need for society not to be complacent. These kinds of things should be dispensed with for the country’s stability.
Granted, in a country such as South Africa — where so much is at stake politically, socio-economically and so on — the campaigns are bound to be heated.
It is to be expected that now and then, politicians will overstep boundaries of civility, but these accusations should not go too far, are actually inappropriate and should be roundly condemned.
The major parties — especially the African National Congress and Democratic Alliance — should set an example for the other parties, voters and society at large in this regard, by taking the lead in showing restraint.
The derisive labelling of DA leader Tony Leon as “Lance Corporal” — ostensibly in reference his rank in the former South African Defence Force — by some ANC politicians in KwaZulu-Natal is thoroughly uncalled for.
This whips up the emotions of the electorate, conjuring up a past when the country was seriously divided. The past cannot and should never be forgotten, so that it should not be repeated.
But exploiting it for political gain in the present is seriously out of tune with the calm political environment prevailing in the country.
The ANC’s determination to “liberate” KwaZulu-Natal is also an ill-advised strategy as it bristles the Inkatha Freedom Party. It belittles the importance and legitimacy of the party that has ruled the province since 1994.
Equally, the acerbic personal condemnation and attacks on ANC leaders — especially President Thabo Mbeki and some members of his Cabinet — by DA politicians must stop.
The DA’s insistence that Mbeki must categorically make a statement that the ANC will not change the Constitution if it attains a two-thirds majority to make it possible for him to seek a third term is utterly irresponsible.
Manufacturing these kinds of fears, when there is no hint of the ANC and Mbeki himself harbouring these intentions, smacks of serious disrespect. This will only serve to inflame the emotions of ANC members and stoke hatred for the DA.
In the same manner, the DA should check its language in referring to Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang as a “murderer” in attacking the government’s Aids policy.
The sum total of this invective is that not only does it present the danger of fuelling emotions in the electorate, it also clouds the real issues in the campaigns that parties should be seriously addressing.
Significantly, name-calling indicates poverty of ideas — which is indeed a grave failing of political parties.
By peppering and prefacing their criticisms with direct personal attacks, politicians are doing themselves a disservice because voters are not stupid: they are unlikely to consider seriously the views of politicians who resort to insults to buttress their views.
The ANC and DA surely have many serious issues to articulate and engage with in trying to solve the country’s problems.
By descending to these levels, they are actually undermining the confidence of the electorate in political parties and the political process, which South Africa can ill afford.
No matter how strongly parties may disagree — after all, this is the essence of democracy — it is not in the interest of South Africa that these disagreements are hyped up at the expense of undermining the country’s integrity.
One of the primary reasons why some people lose interest in politics, which clearly is not good for the country, is as a result of these puerile character attacks that lack substance.
And why should voters take politicians seriously if they behave like some nursery toddlers in a schoolyard brawl?
Politicians have a lot of time to engage in these theatrics in Parliament during the five years in between elections. They would do the electorate a lot of good by refraining from these during the election season and getting down to addressing issues.
Dr Thabisi Hoeane is a lecturer in the Department of Political and International Studies at Rhodes University Grahamstown. He contributes regularly to national print media. His PhD was on South African Electoral Studies and Democratisation.