Our democracy is not working properly
Since publication in the Argus last week, my article calling for a qualified vote has caused a stir.
A follow-up letter is vital to elaborate on the chaos that is unfolding in our nation. Example, since 60% of eligible voters do not vote and about 80% of municipalities cannot attain clean audits and many municipalities are dysfunctional, we must accept reality and stop fooling ourselves.
Since the majority of failing municipalities are located in rural areas, it is evident the majority rural uneducated voter is appointing unskilled Councillors and officials to govern. This is the problem.
Those voting for unskilled Councillor are themselves unskilled. When stupidity is enabled into authority, service delivery will suffer as the blind are figuratively leading the blind. Whilst the democratic “vote” process is working, the outcome is wholesale stupidity and actual failure.
Since the problem is the uneducated and unskilled voter who vote for unskilled uneducated Councillors, we must upgrade both the voter and Councillor. We must insist that only those with a post-matric qualification become Councillors. That includes a certificate or diploma that suggests aptitude. For full-time positions, like Chairperson of a Committee or Executive Councillor a university degree or 3yrs diploma from a real technical institute must be furnished and online does not count.
We cannot have Councillors without qualifications when a municipal tea lady has a matric. Plumbers who work in toilets have qualifications that is vetted by the municipality. How can politicians have authority when a tea lady and plumber is more qualified? How can Councillors with only matric, appoint Municipal Managers (MM) and senior staff. When a MM has a Master’s degree, how is an MM expected to respect and take directives from a Mayor who has no qualifications or actual skills?
Returning to the voter. Voters must be classified by their tax input. The jobless and those who pay less than R250 000 retain one vote. Those who pay tax from R250 000 to R500 000 gets two votes and those who pay tax above R500 000 get three votes. Those who pay more tax tend to be more educated and have a more skills and likely to make better decisions. This does not equate education with intelligence but we must start somewhere and limiting stupidity is the priority.
It is not logical to think a cleaner and a doctor are mentally equal and make the same impact on society. Why must they have equal vote when appointing those in governance who manage billions?
The wealthy can escape failed service with private law enforcement, health-care, gated communities and residential improvement districts etc. Saving the poor requires those who are truthful in their desire to save the poor from their own stupidity which is self-evident in failing municipalities.
Cllr Yagyah Adams
Cape Muslim Congress