Elections done and dusted: what now?

The elections are done and dusted and many South Africans are probably heaving a sigh of relief… but what does the future hold? SHARMINI NAIDOO says that many challenges lie ahead – not least of all for the bus and coach sector. 

Martin Luther King, activist, and political philosopher and one of the most prominent leaders in the US civil rights movement, said that “a riot is the language of the unheard”. Although there is much debate as to what he meant – considering that he was an advocate of non-violence – past history and research seems to support this phenomenon.

According to author and University of Pennsylvania Professor Daniel Q. Gillion, violent protest has a positive impact on political and policy change. “Nonviolent protest brings awareness to an issue; violent protest brings urgency to an issue,” he maintains.

Sadly, violent protest is seen all too often in South Africa. In fact, it is probably the most common form of expression. Alas, the country has faced regular violent and destructive community protests over service delivery; theft and thuggery under the guise of protest action; the burning of schools, barricading of highways, and dumping of refuse; and the stoning and burning of buses, trucks, and tyres with the “burn to be heard” philosophy. Most recently, we have also seen the looting of trucks carrying political paraphernalia coupled with the presence of lawless mobs at voting stations.

So, while these acts and incidents may be predictable, damaging, and seemingly irrational, they can also be explained psychologically – as relative deprivation theory (RDT). This occurs when people perceive a difference between what they have and what they believe they deserve – in other words, they feel relatively deprived. As the perceived disparity grows, so do frustration and resentment, increasing the likelihood for engagement in collective violence. But do these riots and protests really make a difference? Are they positive, sustainable, and meaning the best for the people of the country? And at what cost do they come – both socially and to the country as a whole?

On 29 May this year, South Africans took to the voting stations to cast their ballots for the next administration of a new National Assembly and a new provincial legislature in the nine provinces. They voted in the hope of a brighter future, supporting politicians who have made promises to change the lives of the most stricken.  

Amidst various politicking tactics and strategies (some underhanded and some above board), coalitions, and floor crossings to gain seats, we wait to see what the new cabinet will deliver and if their erstwhile promises will materialise.

Along with that, we wait to hear what will become of the various pieces of legislation that are still hanging in the balance post-elections.

The bus industry is still anxiously waiting to hear whether there is room for further consultations and stakeholder engagements on the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Transport Charter, and whether a Draft Charter will be published for comment. The industry has not had sight of the final version of the Charter, as it was not agreed to by the transport industry at large.

Other pieces of legislation awaiting promulgation include the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (AARTO), South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) account-based ticketing, and the Employment Equity legislation. The main stakeholders have commented on the draft Subsidy Policy, which introduces a user subsidy and the removal of the Public Transport Operations Grant (PTOG) subsidies to operators. SABOA has requested a one-day in-person workshop with the drafting team and is currently awaiting a date.