After Your "X" What's NEXT?
Part 1
Discussing SA’s Future Post Elections
By Tebogo Mokgadi
Kicking off the month of June, BeCoCo covened a Post-election Indaba at Bertha House in Observatory, Cape Town. Planned and coordinated by Rev. Sauls and the BeCoCo Western Cape Leadership Team, The focus thy in-person and virtual event was on how we, as a nation, can move forward. As a democratic country grounding its legislation on an established constitution, how do we use that as a practical pathway towards audacious bridging amongst the differences of its people.
BeCoCo Co-Founder, Lorraine Jantjies, who joined virtually from Eldorado Park, welcomed participants with the following words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “out of a mountain of despair, [is] a stone of hope.” She continued by saying, “We must become the hope we are looking for!”
Following the welcome, Rev. Sauls invited participants to reflect on a “S.I.M.” question – probing the Surprise, Inspirational, and Motivation of every attendant about the elections. A variety of answers were uttered by the Indaba panelists which gave variation of how election season is perceived. Instead of reacting to the expectations of the voter turnout, participants were, to an increment, siding towards the surprise brought by the IEC’s conduct and their handling of the election process. Lorenzo and Lusanda, young community leaders in their respective neighborhoods of Guglethu and Atlantis, felt that the elections were somewhat rigged and that there should be a re‐count—Lorenzo even stating that a re-election would suffice as a re-count would only reestablish the perceived lies presented by the IEC’s results.
This was followed by the question of how South African youth interprets the elections seemed to be one-sided. Dominated by individuals in the private sector, the answers were inclined upon their participation & how they could help elevate the urgent needs of the general community. A businesswoman in the construction industry, Siphokuhle, delved into how. She provided the following alarming example: “being a young person herself – there is always impending danger from those commonly known as ‘Construction Mafias.’ I learned and realized that keeping her business apart from politics helps maintain her focus and acumen.
“After your ‘X’, what’s NEXT?” was the theme for a vibrant Panel Discussion. The purpose of this panel discussion was to probe the meaning of what do we do after casting our votes. Its a provocative question about our responsibility after making our mark on the ballot. Facilitated by Rev. Kelvin Sauls, the panel – both in-person and online – represented ethnic, gender, age and regional diversity, with coming from the greater Western Cape region, including individuals from both public and private sector. In his opening words, Rev. Sauls mentioned the vitality of engaging in participatory dialogue. “In a bid to celebrate democracy in South Africa, we should all remember the basis of the Freedom Charter which says that “the people – not political parties – shall govern.” Essentially, this democracy is in the hands of the people!
Rev. Sauls wanted to know from the panelists what they thought should follow, regardless of the outcome of the elections. Mr Hadebe felt that it’s time its time to learn the country’s constitution as it would better equip him in knowing what his rights are as a South African. Echoing the same sentiment was Siphokuhle who said that the youth needed to associate with older generations that would teach them about the country’s history. Inter-generation bridging was essential! She further says, “empowering ourselves with knowledge will help us know where we come from and where we are headed, enabling us to hold state institutions accountable because we know what we deserve.”
Another individual in the tourism industry going by the moniker of “MC” spoke on the importance of improving the economy. Born and raised in Langa, “MC” states, “While its all good and well to partake in the elections, he felt that young people should be included in economic development. With a minority in our country holding a large chunk of the market, giving fair access to marginalized people can help foster competitiveness, allowing growth and stability in their communities.”
Closing off the Indaba was co-founder of Empower Initiative, Ben McBride. Based in Oakland, California, USA, Empower Initiative is a social impact leadership development company in the areas of bold becoming amd equitable belonging. Quoting Minister Louis Farrakhan, Mr McBride proclaimed posited an urgent need for there to be a change in narrative strategy which would help bridge the gap of differences, forging a bond through each other’s commonality amd dignity. “We must organize our power for long-term sustainable transformative change. An organized lie is more powerful than disorganized truth!” After listening to varying thoughts of everyone, he felt that South Africans needed a deliberate journey to power that takes us beyond merely participating in the gambling of picking political parties.
Rev. Sauls concluded our time together by reminding participants that South Africa is a constitutional democracy. “Though not perfect, our constitution is a profoundly power point of departure of our organizing and mobilizing. When we know our rights we will know our power. No knowledge of your rights means no knowledge of your power! Finally, the NEXT after our “X” must be a prioritization of civic engagement. You don’t have to be a politician to be politically aware and active. Politics will either happen to you, ot though you. Either way, politics is going to happen!!
BeCoCo looks forward to convene follow-up post-election dialogues as part of our our ongoing commitment to encourage active citizenry through civic engagement. Next up, Youth Day 2024!!
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