May has marked a significant month for elections across various fronts, and the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape SAJBD) has been actively engaged in fostering informed citizenship through two notable events.
Upholding its mandate to promote dialogue and understanding within the community and beyond, the Cape SAJBD arranged a webinar and a provincial election debate, both aimed at displaying the intricacies of South Africa’s political landscape and encouraging civic participation.
Wayne Sussman in conversation with Cape SAJBD’s Daniel Bloch
The first event, held on the 16th of May, was a webinar featuring esteemed political analyst Wayne Sussman in conversation with Cape SAJBD’s Executive Director, Daniel Bloch, as the host. Sussman, drawing upon his wealth of experience in political analysis and his deep understanding of South Africa’s political framework, provided a thought-provoking analysis of the recent national elections.
Delving into the evolving dynamics of multi-party politics in the country and voting statistics, Sussman offered insights into potential election outcomes and the implications thereof. Sussman identified four trends unique to this year’s National Elections. The first being the Patriotic Alliance’s (PA) Gayton Mackenzie as a sizeable threat to the DA’s campaign in the Western Cape. Second – “the chaos”, as described by Sussman, ensuing in the KwaZulu-Natal region with former President Jacob Zuma’s acceleration with the MK party. “Looking at by- election trends, the ANC is in big trouble with black voters in Gauteng,” Wayne added as the third trend. The next being the “rural firewall” – the rural areas having been traditionally strong support outposts of the ANC now being more contested particularly by the PA. Sussman added that three major unknowns that will be interesting to note this year are the impact of Gayton Mackenzie, the MK party and the voter turnout on the day.
For those who missed the webinar or wish to revisit the insightful conversation, the recording is available on the Cape SAJBD’s YouTube channel.
Provincial election debate on eNCA
The second event, a provincial election debate, was broadcast live in partnership with eNCA, one of South Africa’s most prominent news channels. Hosted by eNCA’s Professor JJ Thabane, the debate featured premier-elect candidates from several key political parties, including Premier Alan Winde from the Democratic Alliance (DA), Ferlon Christians from the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Dr Corne Mulder from Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus), and Patricia De Lille from the Good Party. It must be noted that the ANC was invited but withdrew at the last minute.
Taking place within the historic setting of the Old Synagogue at the South African Jewish Museum, the debate brought together representatives from each party, communal leaders, friends and guests of the Cape SAJBD, fostering an atmosphere of inclusivity and democratic engagement. Throughout the evening, Professor JJ Thabane posed probing questions to each premier candidate, eliciting insightful responses and providing viewers with a deeper understanding of each party’s vision and policies on various topics. These topics included job creation, education, policing and the importance of addressing land distribution, and loadshedding.
Crucially, the debate also allowed for audience participation, further enhancing the democratic process by giving voice to the concerns and perspectives of citizens. What the parties did agree on was that now is time for change and that a government of national unity is needed to improve the lives of all South Africans.
Both events organised by the Cape SAJBD underscored the organisation’s commitment to promoting active citizenship and fostering informed dialogue within the community. By providing platforms for discussion and debate, the Cape SAJBD not only contributes to a more politically engaged society but also reinforces the values of democracy and civic responsibility. As South Africa continues on its democratic journey, initiatives like these play a vital role in shaping the future of the nation.
Watch the eNCA town hall election debate recording here.
Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies website: www.capesajbd.org, Instagram, and Facebook page.
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