Youth unhappy with Mangaung process
2012-11-12 12:08
Johannesburg - The youth are dissatisfied with the way the country's next president will be elected, according to a survey released on Monday.
"It is clear that young people feel the electoral process at Mangaung is not a true reflection of democracy," said Shirley Wakefield, of consumer insights company Pondering Panda.
"They do not believe that the ANC should rely on 4 000 delegates to decide the election of the next ANC president, and therefore the person most likely to be the next president of South Africa."
The survey polled 3 371 South Africans aged between 18 and 34 across the country. About 51% felt all citizens should be entitled to vote for the next president, not just the delegates at Mangaung.
Only one in four (25%) felt the current system was how democracy worked. Thirteen percent felt all ANC members should have a vote, rather than all South Africans. Eleven percent were unable to decide.
Further disillusionment
Pondering Panda said there was no significant difference across ages or provinces, but opinions differed according to race.
Young black South Africans were the most likely to feel Mangaung was in line with how democracy worked, with 29% approving of the current system.
However, 47% of the black youth felt everybody should be entitled to vote. About 70% of white and Indians, and 66% of coloureds, felt all South Africans should be part of the process.
Wakefield said: "Despite a strong desire amongst the youth for all South Africans to help decide the next leader of the ANC, young people are unlikely to be given a say, which may result in further disillusionment with the political process, and affect youth turnout in 2014."
The ANC is holding its national elective conference in Mangaung next month.
- SAPA
