South Africa: 'No Sense of National Purpose' Is What Is Making South Africans Vulnerable

analysis

The Defend our Democracy campaign's Conference for Democratic Renewal and Change kicked off in Johannesburg on 1 July.

Giving the keynote inputs at the conference were former deputy minister of finance Mcebisi Jonas and political scientist at the University of Pretoria, Professor Sandy Africa.

"Alarm bells are sounding and we need to up the tempo of defending democracy globally and in South Africa," warned Jonas.

He said South Africa needed renewal in order to stop a "democratic backsliding", weakening the political system, and that weak state institutions caused the state to be the biggest threat to democracy.

Attacks on the Constitution were becoming increasingly common to undermine SA's democratic institutions, he said. That does not mean constitutional amendments cannot be undertaken, but conversations need to be rational.

"In fact, one of the key propositions I suggested this morning, on electoral reform, would require a constitutional amendment. What we must ensure is that all reforms are well-considered and subject to what [Indian economist and Nobel laureate] Amartya Sen calls democratic public reasoning.

"The role of our security establishment, or at least elements thereof, in the 2021 July unrest; the political assassinations within the governing party; the assassinations of whistleblowers; and the...

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.