Opportunities and Limitations of Proportional Representatives System (PRS) 1. Elections in Liberal-representative Democracy

5. Findings: Elections as the Bedrock for Democracy

5.1. Opportunities and Limitations of Proportional Representatives System (PRS) 1. Elections in Liberal-representative Democracy

Liberal theorists are renowned for focusing on procedural aspects of democracy as a means to afford citizens the opportunity to elect people who can govern on their behalf. The importance of elections as the mechanism for liberal representative democracy is highlighted by Mangcu (2011: 1156) who argues that liberal theorists focus on procedural aspects of democracy such as elections, fairness, and tolerance and individual rights. Importantly, Saward (2003: 28) equates democracy to be about people voting and he further highlighted the problem associated with voting as such a mechanism display flaws which at the same the flaws of democracy itself.

Thus Saward (2003) regards the deficiencies of democracy as the deficiencies of the people. For Ferrante (2008: 315) representative democracy is famous for holding free elections which in turn gives every citizen the right to vote. In this regard, elections are the hallmark of democracy whereby people are not only provided with democratic right to elect their representatives but also ensure that are replaced when not performing. It is unfortunate that through proportional representation distance the citizens from governing resulting in democratic ideals such as accountability and transparency being compromise. Runji (2013: 84) argues that the failure to apply accountability and transparency mechanism in government makes a mockery of the trust that citizens’ place on elected representatives to guard their interests. Through elections, the local populace is afforded a golden opportunity to participation more particularly in electing their representatives into office. In this context, Davids (2005: 11) argues that participation should not end with the elections but should also be a process that structurally incorporates the voices of communities. Within the context of liberal representative democracy, representation and participation form part of the fundamental pillars within which democratic right to vote is exercised by citizens. Within a constitutional dispensation, Cooray (2002 cited in Minnaar &

Bekker, 2005: 59) considers elections as one of the core elements whereby such democratic right is exercised by citizens based on universal adult franchise. In political science, the political process and elections are regarded as the main avenues for democratic accountability.

Brinkerholff (2001: 303) designates elections as a decisive element within democratic regimes in the sense that a government’s continuation in office is subject to the ‘will of the people’ as

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manifest at the ballot box. The importance of elections is further illustrated by the following comments:

“For me elections are the only avenue through which I can make my voice heard. It does not mean that elections by themselves are an end in themselves but a powerful tool in the hands of the citizens whereby informed people could elect their leaders and also demand accountability and transparency as well as sound and fair representation in the municipal councils or parliament” (Ward Councilor, 2014).

Considering that democracy is not just about electing government, Mangcu (2011: 1153) posits that while elections are a crucial means of democratic accountability, much more is needed to achieve a democratic political culture. Elections either at national and provincial as well as local government level should be understood as one of the mechanism for citizen participation. Van der Waldt (2005: 35) makes it obvious by arguing that citizen participation in a democracy is by voting in elections. According to one of the community activists:

“Elections are very important for both the rich and the poor, although hosted every five years, they give citizens the power to vote out the parties which are under-performing and turn the deaf ear to the demands and needs of the people”.

A young person who has just voted for the first time in the 2011 local government elections expressed the need to vote by saying that:

“It was for the first time to vote, I am excited to vote because I want my vote to be accounted. Considering that young people in South Africa are faced with daunting challenges such as poverty, scourge of HIV/AIDS and more particularly the rising youth unemployment amongst the unskilled, semi-skilled and graduates”.

In a democratic society the right to vote – and consequently the right to select and remove government is according to Jones et al. (2004: 137) perhaps the most fundamental right of the citizen. On one hand, electoral theorist such as Mesfin (2008) and Huntington (1993) support the above assertion by associating elections as the prerequisites of democracy while on the other hand, Struwig (2013: 1122) grounds elections as the primary channel through which citizens choose and remove their political leaders, granting them authority while at the same time keeping them accountable.

5.1.1.1. Equal Opportunity for Political Parties

The chosen electoral system in democratic South Africa is fundamentally influenced by the society which is envisaged by all citizens as non-racist, non-sexist and a democratic (Constitution, 1996). It is therefore not surprising that the South African constitution is a distinctive product of the transition process with inclusive structures of various public commissions, boards, councils and virtually every public institution reflecting these attempts to be as inclusive and representative as possible. In this regard, Maphai (2004: 14) highlighted that:

“The electoral system of proportional representation was designed to ensure that minority parties were not voiceless and that parliament was widely representative”.

Through proportional representative system, periodically citizens elect their own representatives who in turn are obliged to act on people’s mandate and behavior in a manner that do not compromise the ideals of democracy. In support of the PR system, Zybrands (2006) indicates

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that the strength of the PR system is its inclusiveness as the proportion of parties which indirectly reflects the vote, and the closed list system enhances the representation of smaller parties and constituencies such as ethnic minorities and women. One of the political activists said that:

“South Africa is a diverse and heterogeneous society with different races, agenda, religious affiliation, ethnic groupings, cultural backgrounds, etc. and the suitability of the PR system is based on its capacity to accommodate diverse political parties whom would have no chances to be part of the electoral democracy if other electoral methods were to be used”.

Mangcu (2013: 1160) argues that the proportional representation system does not only provide parties with equal opportunity to compete but it also fosters a culture of obeisance to the party leadership.

5.1.1.2. Mandated Role of Elected Representatives

Through electoral democracy, the elected representatives carry the socio-economic and political mandate of the people who elect them into power. The representative democratic arrangement by design becomes a reciprocal process in which the citizens exercise their democratic right to vote the preferred candidates. Political scientists and public administration scholars are often pessimistic that electoral democracy does not only provide golden opportunity for citizens to have a choice or representatives to govern on their behalf but also accord the political processes to elect such leaders as part of empowering the electorates. Van der Waldt (2005: 35) highlighted the importance of elections and the process of electing representatives by asserting that:

“There is general agreement that one of the important building blocks for local democracy is representative and accountable local government …the way in which municipal councilors are elected is crucial, as this will determine whether ordinary citizens feel that they have a stake in their councils, and that councilors tale their concerns seriously”.

Such processes entail voter education undertaken by private and independent bodies, thus conscientizing people about the importance of voting as the fundamental right as well as the political campaigning conducted by various political parties and the actual voting. With the dominance of political party at the centre of electoral democracy, it became apparent that the elected representatives have a clue of the mandate to be fulfilled once they are elevated into power. Elected officials or representatives are seen to play an important role especially in debating, implementing and transferring policies at local level. Rose (1993: 52) argues that as policy transfer, elected representatives together with their values give direction to public policy and their endorsement is needed to legitimate the adoption of programmes. The municipal councilor had this to say:

“First and foremost, we are elected officials by the people and as such we are equally obliged by the Constitution to serve the needs and demands of the people. The reality is that in order to serve the public, proper interpretation and understanding of all national policies and municipal by-laws is imperative” (Interview, Ward Councilor, 2014).

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In addition, elected officials occupy a central and decisive position in the local polity because they are strategically position to set the boundaries of acceptable policies during their administration.

5.2.Limitations of Proportional Representatives System (PRS)

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