The country is in the grip of Local Election fever or more specifically the political parties are in the grip of the Local Election fever scrambling to see who can win what..

I was listening to a discussion on Talk Radio 702 last  night with Kieno Kammies and a few young adults in SA who were propagating the usage of Social Media.. While the issue was predominantly about Social Media, it also covered the current political climate and the local government elections and how Social Media is involved or can be involved in creating a change..

I also listened briefly to Redi Tlhabi’s round table with all the politicial parties in the Western Cape.. At the Round Table there were accusations and counter accusations (ok lets be civilised and call it a “debate”) among the political parties as to who did what when they were in power in Cape Town.. ANC was debating that the Western Cape under the rule of DA has not done this and this and this etc.. Redi then asked a very valid question to the ANC “What were you doing when you were in power, and why didn’t you (the ANC) do what they are now asking the DA to do”..

Very valid, and it also brings a genuine idea of having sort of a performance “scoreboard” for each political party.. The way it should work is

• A scoreboard must be created on any electronic social media or website, with access to the public where they can post comments
• Each political party should then publish what they promise they would do FOR THE PEOPLE if elected to a certain municipality or province
• This should be in succinct, brief point form (rather than the whole manifesto) with a deadline – Example : Political Party A promises to cover all potholes on William Nicol by the 30th of March 2012
• The public who are concerned are sure to monitor this and can post comments on the same – whether positive or negative
• A scorecard can be drawn up based on these comments and scores can be published and everyone can see who is doing what instead of playing the blame game or cloak and dagger
• This will separate the real performers from the on-paper performers
• The public can also use this as a yardstick for the next elections when those parties come back with the same promises

Maybe this could be a project for Lead SA with their profile and connections to the media etc..

Comments/Suggestions/Action..??

Filed under Category: local government elections, political, politics, south africa and Tags: African National Congress, cape town, Democratic Alliance, Local Election, Political party, south africa, western cape by manaadiar || Date : 11th May 2011 ||