Unpacking political party manifestos for the 2024 elections: Healthcare, safety and security

The Democracy Development Program NPC convened a sequel of the Multiparty forum where political parties engaged with the public and expressed their manifestos and visions for South Africa. The DDP senior program officer Siphamandla Mhlongo facilitated the program. He foregrounded the session by clarifying the importance of these sessions and how crucial are they for South Africa’s democracy. Moreover, he asserted that it’s part of the organization’s mandate to establish platforms for citizens to publicly share their views, critic and question the current regime and political parties about their promises.

Our Executive Director Dr Paul Kariuki in his opening address expressed great appreciation to the parties that honored the invitation and the participants who came from various areas in Durban. He promised that these forums will continue until elections as they are critical for providing people with information so that they are able to make informed decisions. Dr Paul summed up his remarks with a profound call to action.

‘’This is to ensure that the voices of citizens are heard in the right space, that we able to hold our leaders accountable at the same time we galvanise efforts to protect our democracy and defend it so that its sustainable for a long time’.

The focus for this second forum was on understanding the stance of the political parties on Health, Safety and Security. Challenges. Firstly, the participants were provided a space to discuss these issues in small focus groups and later presented their points in plenary. This gave room to the political parties represented to listen to their constituencies before they address them.

Multi-party forum had representative from the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Africa Restoration Alliance (ARA), Build One South Africa (BOSA), and uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK). All the parties were given an opportunity to elaborate their manifesto and how they are planning to address the challenges presented by their constituency and what they have done current to curb issues of Health, Safety and Security.

Dr Ongama Mtika who is a lecturer, and a Political Analyst from Nelson Mandela University gave an address on the status quo of South African politics. He alluded that South Africa is in an interesting space, particularly because whenever a country reaches a stage where elections are no longer certain, therefore the country is significantly democratized. He also expressed concern about the tendency of some people who are impressed with authoritarian rule on the basis that the country system does not serve some of their urgent needs. He cautioned that for democracy to work, it needs people to fully participate.

To conclude, public discussions and forums of this nature should not only be reserved for politicians to talk to the public. But a platform for engagement, planning and galvanizing energy to protect this democracy. DDP encourages everyone to exercise their civic duty to protect democracy and create the leaders they are seeking for.

Your vote is your power. Make your vote count!

You can watch the full event here>

Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/live/_A4Il9_uK8g?si=9fROaVea5fj7orSR 

Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/live/nazPFzr3a1Y?si=PeVq1-JW_lN5kAw5