KwaZulu-Natal – On Freedom Day Saala Media hosted an election debate with two of Durban’s community radio stations – Ugu Youth Radio, and Al ansaar FM where there was a debate among the top three political parties in the country; ANC, DA and EFF.
Election debate moderator Inayet Wadee noted that voters tend to prioritize personal loyalty over any criticism when it comes to the political party of their choice.
“Assessing from the election debate audience responses, voters still tend to make decisions based on whom they are individually loyal to. Loyalty to them matters more than real issues that they need to be concerned about,” says Wadee.
An informal investigation done by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in Durban seems to agree with Wadee’s observation. The IEC’s investigation reveals that a significant chunk of voters do not even know what their political parties’ manifestos entail.
IEC Outreach and Training Manager, Malusi Msomi says it is disheartening to realise that voters do not take time to read and understand the manifestos of political parties; even their chosen ones.
Zoleka Mkhabela a post-graduate student and staunch EFF supporter is a first time voter from KwaMashu. She says her voting decision is based on loyalty to the party she fell in love with during the 2014 local government elections. Zoleka says she has not bothered to read nor listen to the 2019 EFF election manifesto.
“After reading the EFF election manifesto in 2014, I decided that this is the party I identify with. The resolve of EFF leaders in 2014 is what attracted me and that’s enough for me.”
(Edited by Philile Masango)