The South African Election is over, What needs to be done Now!
To survive, the ANC must appease Alex
Written by. Sipho Sebele
Alex is a township that is a glaring microcosm of South Africa’s promise and failures. Before, during, and after the elections, it has been a politically volatile place and offers the best glimpse at the work that newly elected president Cyril Ramaphosa will have to do. Alex, short for Alexander, is a high-density township in Johannesburg. One of its unique paradoxes is that is is one of South Africa’s poorest areas and yet is only separated by a road from Sandton which is South Africa’s (and Africa’s) richest area.
After its independence in 1994, South Africa had serious socio-economic problems… The apartheid system had created a society in which the few (whites) benefited at the expense of the many (black). The unequal system meant that white lives thrived on the back of black lives. The new democratic government had the task of turning around centuries of oppression within a short amount of space.
The ANC had a tough task on its hand, and to be fair it did exceptionally well. The ANC government brought millions out of poverty and provided them with;
Jobs and economic opportunities
Decent housing
Access to better healthcare
Decent education
Access to water and sanitation
Sadly, for the ANC as impressive as their performance was, it wasn’t enough to turn around all the socio-economic ills in South Africa. South Africa has glaring problems such as;
Widening wealth inequality
Corruption and maladministration
High unemployment
Floundering education systems
Infrastructure degradation
High levels of debt and falling credit ranking
The protests by residents of townships like Alex were not about politics, but service delivery. Voters in these areas are getting more and more weary of politicians and their lack of performance. It is areas like Alex, that shunned the ANC at the last major election in 2016, it is areas like Alex that saved the ANC from sliding further in 2019.
There is a large section of South Africa that has not progressed since independence and the ANC is having a harder and harder time convincing them to believe otherwise. From its initial result of 63% in 1994, the ANC was only able to garner 57% of the vote in 2019.
“We expect to see the level of crime going down and opening more work opportunities for the youth. Politicians only promise but don’t serve the people. Worth need jobs, so they expect more jobs from the leading party” said Alex resident and married mother of three Nompumelelo.
The demands of residents in townships like Alex are simple but not easy to accomplish. They want a decent life, housing, education, health, and most importantly opportunities. President Cyril Ramaphosa has to deliver on his election promises to these residents along with other constituent demands while steering a moribund economy and anemic growth. His presidency will stand as the line between the ANC’s resurgence or its downfall.
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Images were provided by Ntuthuko, he can be reached on ntuthukompofu@gmail.com
