Clear threats to our democracy

30 May 2016 - 09:21 By Prof GE Devenish , Durban

Democracy must operate within the confines of the constitution and must be clearly distinguishable from mob rule and anarchy. This relates to the large number of violent service-delivery protests and the abusive conduct of the EFF in parliament.Both of these are a serious threat to democracy and need to be addressed urgently.The EFF has caused pandemonium by obstructing parliament and the growing number of violent protests are cause for profound concern.They are an indication that peaceful methods of resolution have been abandoned.All of this imperils the very foundations of our constitution.Our destiny as a democratic body politic is at stake.The government, opposition parties and civil society need to ensure the integrity and continued operation of our democratic body politic.This is an issue which is too seminal to be left to inept and bumbling politicians, and leaders of civil society of necessity should get involved.The freedom provided by a system of constitutional democracy involving a bill of rights is open to manifest abuse.Within such a democracy, the government must be sufficiently powerful to govern effectively, and, simultaneously, must be accountable to its citizens and the electorate.To maintain the correct balance is a challenge. Weak government can easily be overwhelmed by unscrupulous forces.This could conceivably occur in South Africa and that is why there is a threat to our democracy.The government must make a concerted effort to address and contain service-delivery protests and open up the avenues of peaceful negotiation. The manner in which the EFF is handled presents an inordinate challenge to our democracy.When it abuses the freedom accorded to it in the constitution, it must be called to account ...

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