The sixth annual Schools’ Democracy Week programme – a joint initiative between the Electoral Commission and the Department of Basic Education, was launched at KwaMhlanga Show Grounds in Nkangala, Mpumalanga earlier this morning.

Themed Be the legacy: Strengthen our democracy through voting, the programme will roll out in selected public schools throughout South Africa from 23 to 27 April 2018, in the week that South Africa celebrates Freedom Day and 24 years of electoral democracy.

Staff from the Electoral Commission’s Outreach Division in nine provinces will visit participating public schools and lead activities which will include debates, presentations, mock elections, role play, voter registration, interactive sessions, lectures and formal lessons. 

The Schools Democracy programme started in 2013, in the run-up to the 2014 National and Provincial Elections, when the Electoral Commission signed a three-year memorandum of agreement with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to facilitate the teaching of civic and democracy education in schools across the country.

“This collaboration has grown from strength to strength and has become a highlight of the Electoral Commission’s calendar,” remarked Sy Mamabolo, Chief Electoral Officer of the Electoral Commission, during the launch.

The Electoral Commission and the Department of Basic Education agreed on a week within the school calendar which would focus South Africa’s attention on civic and democracy education in schools. An important part of this would be to increase youth voter registration and participation of young people in elections. This remains a key outcome the week.

“It is no coincidence that Schools’ Democracy Week is held during the week in which South Africa celebrates Freedom Day – the 27th of April each year. That date has a special place in every South Africans heart – and especially for us at the Electoral Commission.

“It is the day in 1994 when millions of South Africans of all races, gender, creed and culture, from every socio-economic status stood shoulder-to-shoulder in queues in the hot sun to vote together for the first time ever. That day 24 years ago was more than about voting. It was about choosing a new and different future for our country and our children.

“Schools Democracy Week is also about more than voter education and learning about how to register as a voter and how to complete a ballot paper. It’s about entrenching the values and rights of our Constitution and promoting responsible and active citizenship among all South Africans,” said Mamabolo.

In his address, Electoral Commission Vice-Chairperson Terry Tselane said that when it comes to young people and elections there is one word which comes up all the time, not only here in South Africa, but around the world: apathy.

“Our own statistics at the Electoral Commission seem to support this notion of an apathetic youth who are disinterested in politics and elections,” noted Tselane.

While the number of registered voters under 30 years old grew by about 275 000 between 2011 and adjusting for population growth means that there has been a decline in registration by young people.

In simple terms, voter registration for voters younger than 30 years old grew just 4.6% compared to an average increase of 11.3% for all other age segments over the past five years.

Voter registration for young people under 30 remains the lowest for all age groups in the country – out of an estimated eligible voting population of 11.88 million 18 to 29 year olds, just 6.28 million (about 53%) were registered for the 2016 Municipal Elections.

“But when we talk to young people and look at research and surveys a different picture emerges,” observed Tselane. The results of an Afrobarometer survey released last year show that a majority of South African youth remain interested in public affairs. 

“You just need to look on Twitter or other social media channels to see that young people are actively engaged in a wide range of socio-economic and politics issues in our country and the world. The student protests of recent years, and involvement by young people in other community protests, shows that our youth are anything but disinterested.

“So why is this interest in politics and current events not translating into an increase in voter registration and participation by young people?” he asked.

“Research conducted on behalf of the Electoral Commission and other international research shows that young people are not apathetic when it comes to political, social and economic issues – but they are disillusioned with mainstream politics and government. Quite simply they feel let down by elections and many older established political parties,” said Tselane. 

Mamabolo reminded the attendees that defending democracy is not the job of any one institution alone.

“It is a task for each and every South African, young and old, for each and every stakeholder in our electoral democracy, public and private sector, civil society and the media. Only by working together can we continue to advance the gains we have made over the past 24 years.

Mamabolo went on to express his gratitude for the support and partnership of the Minister, the provincial MECs and National and Provincial Departments of Basic Education for the Schools Democracy project, and for allowing it to grow and touch the lives of thousands of young South Africans over the past five years.

In his address, Vice-Chairperson Tselane urged the more than 1 000 youngsters by explaining why all youngsters eligible to vote should vote in the 2019 National and Provincial elections. He offered them eight reasons to vote:

1. Because young people can change the outcome. South Africa has one of the youngest populations in the world. According to the most recent Statistics South Africa Mid-Year Population Estimates published in August 2017, over 30% of the population is aged younger than 15 years and over 58% are under 30 years old. The single largest age group of voting age population are those aged 20 – 29 who comprise an estimated 10.8 million people, which means young people have in their hands the power to determine the outcome of an election – if they just use this power at voting stations.

2: Because no one cares about youth issues except the youth. Statistics show that older voters are more likely to vote – which means their concerns and issues are likely to dominate the political agenda. By exercising their considerable voting power, young people would make sure that issues of relevance and importance to them are placed – and kept – on the agenda.

3: If you don’t vote, you can’t complain! If you don’t vote then you get stuck with other people’s choices – and you can’t even complain about it because you let it happen. By participating in the electoral process – as voters, candidates, activists and observers – you get a say not only in elections but for the next five years in how things are done.

4: Because you can! You may take your right to vote and all other rights in our Constitution for granted but 25 years ago most of the people in this room were not allowed to vote. The current youth’s parents and grandparents were not allowed to vote. Many of them were arrested and jailed for demanding this most basic human right, while others were tortured and killed. Simply by presenting yourself at a registration station with your ID during a registration event puts you on the voters’ roll for life – and let’s you vote in every general and by-election in your area.

5: Democracy needs you! Democracy only works if people participate. That sounds obvious but unless people actively participate in the process, democracy doesn’t work and you get something less and something worse. It takes constant renewal to make democracy flourish.

6: There has never been a generation with more information about politics and elections. Technology and connectivity means that your generation is probably the best informed and best equipped to vote in history. Social media is giving young people access to information which previous generations of voters didn’t – and still don’t have. Youth are becoming the experts ahead of your parents, and they need to use that expertise to make sure our country heads in the right direction

7: FOMO – Fear of Missing Out! When your friends are all tweeting from the voting station on voting day you’re going to feel like the odd one out. Be cool – vote!

8: Five years is a long time! If you’re thinking that right now you’ve got better things to do with your time and you’ll vote next time, think again! Five years is a long time to be stuck with something you don’t want or that you think doesn’t work, particularly in government.

Please share your Schools Democracy Week 2018 experiences on Twitter, using the hashtag #SDW2018.

ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Ensuring free and fair elections

Centurion
17 April 2017

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