“Our electoral system does not encourage active citizenship, because you vote for a party and they can just take a bottle and say ‘this is your president’.”
This is what Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, politician, author and academic, had to say during a discussion about active citizenship at Irene Women’s residence, with Pauli van Wyk, a journalist at Daily Maverick. “We need to get to a place where we are citizens not only in name,” he added.
The talk was held to engage students on how to play a role in their community and to make a difference.
Mamphela Ramphele and Pauli van Wyk engaging with audience questions. PHOTO: Bonita Williams
“You have to be informed and read up on the political parties to cast a responsible vote and you achieve this by reading,” said Ramphele.
“You won’t find a party with all the things you value, but one that is most representative of your values,” said Van Wyk.
Ramphele advised students to ask the leaders coming for their vote their stance on amending the Electoral Act.
Dr. Mamphela Ramphele is a former activist against apartheid, medical doctor, academic and businesswoman. PHOTO: Mamphela Ramphele’s Twitter
In discussing active citizenship, Van Wyk said rights impose responsibility on us. She also said as the owners of this country, young people have the right to say “not in my name” whenever their parties do not represent them. “It is your duty to do so,” she said.
“Active citizenship is more encompassing than activism,” said Van Wyk responding to a question from the audience. She explained that active citizenship is “not in the big things, it is in the small things.”
“You do not always have to agree with a person, but you can listen,” she said.
“The youth, are the majority and [they] can decide who governs this country,” said Ramphele
“The youth are so powerful, you are at the beginning of your lives. You can see what we did not see,” echoed by Van Wyk.
Panelists, Mamphela Ramphele and Pauli van Wyk during the discussion. PHOTO: Bonita Williams
“I think the event was very informative and I think the questions I had coming into the event were answered. I am leaving with the urge to go out and learn more,” said Bianca Hall (23), BA International Relations student. “The sentiments that were shared were not new. I think sometimes we leave conversations [like these] with a lot of questions instead of answers.”
“I think we are seeing in a different way of activism and here we are at a citizenship discussion. It is a sign that our students are beginning to be active and engage, I think we can only grow from here”said Lwando Nkamisa, Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Representative Council (SRC) Chairperson who was also in attendance.