Democracy is not a spectator sport…

The well-known quote by Michael Moore on democracy that was adapted by former President Nelson Mandela reminds us that “democracy is not a spectator sport; it requires the active participation of the people to flourish”… and, writes SHARMINI NAIDOO, my oh my have the people participated!

In the words of Cyril Ramaphosa: “In their multitude, in voices that are many and diverse, the people of South Africa have voted and made known their wishes, their concerns, and their expectations. We accept and respect the results of the elections and we once again say the people have spoken. Their will shall be done without any doubt or question.”

The elections have resulted in broad coalition agreements with some of the main opposition parties and the previous ruling party. Rivals on one day and partners on the next… It is no wonder that they say politicians make strange bedfellows!

The parties are now left to debate whether they will still be able to uphold their party manifestos and quibble about whether there should indeed be consultation amongst the coalition parties before other parties are approached to join the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Yet one can’t help but wonder how loyal party supporters feel. Are they aggrieved? Is there a sense of being “sold out” by the party? Or do they see the benefit in working together for the betterment of the country, while living out the inclusive values espoused in the constitution?

Heralded as a new dawn for South Africa , or a “reboot” of sorts, we wait to see what this really means. Can we expect our voices to be heard, or can we look forward to every piece of legislation being legally challenged in court by those not party to parliament? It will also be interesting to see if and how there will be a meeting of minds with the radical economic reform policies of the previous government.

We have a wonderful system outlined in the constitution, which allows for our rights not be impinged upon and our views to be heard. We have processes in place that allow for public consultation both in writing – through the publication of gazettes – and in oral presentations to the parliamentary portfolio committees. 

With a strong majority, the previous ruling party was able to steamroll the process, passing legislation without considering comments or opposing views. The bus industry and the transport industry at large have seen countless pieces of legislation published verbatim after the draft was gazetted, without any consideration given to comments or to the impact on the industry. 

We live in fervent hope that, under the leadership of the GNU, we will see the parties working together peacefully, constructively, and really listening to their constituents. At the time of going to print, the country was still awaiting the announcement of the new cabinet, the Minister of Transport, and the MECs for Roads and Transport and other transport officials in most of the provinces. We are not sure what the future holds for the transport industry.

Meanwhile, the rand strengthened slightly against the dollar after news of the unity government was announced. Rating agency Moody said that the GNU is likely to support broad policy continuity and economic reform, but it could also lead to a risk of instability.

According to independent analyst, Khaya Sithole – chartered accountant, activist, analyst, and academic – currency markets and currency traders are notoriously sensitive, in that a single hint of sentiment or even a rumour are enough to spear them into action, even if there is no underlying substance. However, it could be dangerous to assume that political conversations of the day – such as the impending announcement of the new cabinet – will immediately translate into market fluctuations. 

What we do actually know is that there is a temporary hiatus on loadshedding, which is set to resume in the form of load reductions. We have high food and fuel prices, high unemployment, a lack of service delivery, ongoing violence and intimidation, social-economic issues and corruption at state-owned entities (SOEs)… none of which are going to disappear overnight! We can safely assume that the long-term effects of these factors are definitely included in the valuation of our currency.

This year, SABOA has invited Sithole to be a speaker at the annual conference. A highly respected and sought after specialist, he will share his views on the economic and political outlook for the country and touch on the impact this is likely to have on the bus industry. 

The SABOA Annual Conference 2024 will be held on 15 August at the Randpark Golf Club. It will include a full day of conferencing, along with a mini exhibition, a bus display, and a few surprises!

We will start the day early with a business networking breakfast. This will be followed by the conference sessions, inclusive of lunch and refreshment breaks. We will round off the day with a cocktail function, allowing delegates a further opportunity to mingle and network with fellow industry players.

The bus industry is highly regulated by various well-meaning policies and legislation, which nevertheless have unintended consequences on the industry. This affects the sustainability, viability, reliability, profitability, and operability of operators. This year’s conference – themed “Sustainability of the Bus Industry” – seeks to address some of these challenges. The conference will also host expert speakers from the industry and high level government officials, giving delegates the perfect opportunity to get the latest updates and discuss, debate, and strategise critical industry issues. 

During a recent SABOA engagement, the previous Deputy Minister, Lisa Mangcu, expressed keen interest (if reappointed) in attending the conference, so we look forward to hosting him and continuing the relationship.  

The SABOA conference is one of the most affordable and best value-for-money conferences in the transport industry, and we have included topics that speak to the diverse needs of the industry. The conference has already received overwhelming support from sponsors, for which we are deeply appreciative. We would like to encourage operators to register and attend either in person or virtually, as the bus industry needs its people to come together as one to ensure longevity, sustainability, and continuity. 

We would all do well to remember Chaucer’s popular idiom dating back to c. 1374: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained!” Register as a SABOA conference delegate by clicking on this link: https://www.transporting.com/conferencing/saboa, emailing tumi@saboa.co.za, or calling (011) 511 7641.