Against the background of that which has been happening over recent weeks in the northern Arab regions of our continent, and against the ongoing occurrence of the local phenomenon of service delivery protests turning violent, the municipal elections scheduled for 18 May this year are taking on a very special importance.

South Africa has a significant responsibility as the continent’s most developed and prosperous nation, to prove that democracy can work on the African continent. If things go wrong now, it could destroy the value of the 1994 ‘miracle’. It could destroy the message that negotiated settlements can indeed bring long-term solutions.

It is understandable and unavoidable that the political temperature will rise during election times.

However, while there are clearly some serious challenges to realise the expectations of large chunks of the South African electorate, politicians should be extremely careful to not be over-opportunistic and in the process drive temperatures to uncontrollable levels.

The violence that seems to becoming endemic in service delivery protests is probably already a sign that vast numbers of our communities are starting to lose faith in the democratic processes available to them. Driven to despondency, they then resort to that which – for them – would seem the only viable alternative to get results.

This situation is not an indictment of only the political party that happens to be governing in a particular council. If it is to be an indictment, it would be equally so for those in the opposition benches: for their lack of persuading voters that they represent a democratic alternative.

Those running for office must always keep in mind that for a democracy to work properly – particularly at local government level where it operates closely to and almost intimately with citizens – voters must always feel that they are the centre of attention and efforts, and not the careers and/or jobs of individuals seeking office.

The local elections in May are arguably the most important in the country after 1994. Those involved should take note of the tremendous responsibility resting on their shoulders to secure and deepen our democratic culture.

Piet Coetzer