Deciding who to vote for in South Africa is tricky business, and it’s often hard to get to grips with what political parties actually plan on doing.

DA, I’m looking at you. Enough with the billboards.

One thing we can count on is a list of promises from all sides. Whether or not those promises will be fulfilled depends on what happens after the election.

Every vote is a leap of faith in this sense.

To help you make an informed decision, BusinessTech has sifted through the political rhetoric to get to the heart of what each of the three main political parties – the DA, EFF and ANC – say they’ll do if they’re elected.

Starting with…

FIGHTING CORRUPTION

The ANC is citing the commission to probe allegations against Jacob Zuma and co. as evidence that they’re already committed to fighting corruption. It plans to ensure that there is greater transparency when awarding state tenders, strengthen parliaments oversight, and crack down on private companies that engage in illegal activities.

The DA wants to establish a new anti-corruption unit in the National Prosecuting Authority to investigate politicians and government officials engaged in wrongdoing. They want to remove the president’s power to appoint a chief prosecutor, handing that power over to parliament. All prosecutors will be subject to yearly performance assessments. Furthermore, they want to impose a standard 15-year jail sentence for anyone caught embezzling more than R10 000.

The EFF wants to amend the constitution to make the National Prosecuting Authority accountable to parliament, rather than the government, which will guarantee its independence. Any public representative or state worker convicted of corruption should serve a minimum 20-year jail sentence as well as forfeit their pensions and savings.

Does that include the likes of Floyd Shivambu? Asking for a friend.

LAND REFORM

The ANC has promised to change the Constitution to accelerate the expropriation of land without compensation in an effort to address racially skewed ownership patterns, dating back to apartheid and colonial rule. They claim that food security and economic development won’t be undermined by land seizures.

The DA wants to protect property rights, while at the same time instituting a land-reform program that increases access to ownership, creates jobs and grows the economy. They have no intention of changing the Constitution.

The EFF want all land placed under state custodianship and equitably redistributed along demographically representative racial lines. Foreigners would not be allowed to own land in South Africa. They also want to scrap all rentals on residential property.

JOB CREATION

The ANC says that they will create 275 000 new jobs every year over the next five years by boosting local demand and exports. It plans on attracting R1,2 trillion in investment over four years and set up an infrastructure fund to build rail links, roads, hospitals, schools and dams.

The DA says that they want to see at least one person per household with a job. The plan is to promote employment by ensuring greater regulatory certainty, growing the economy, cutting red tape for small business and guaranteeing a reliable power supply.

The EFF wants to create special economic zones that will attract investment. They also plan on instituting tax breaks for companies that employ more than 2 000 people. They want 80% of goods procured by state companies and the government to be locally produced and at least half of the country’s mineral resources to be locally processed.

What’s important to remember here is that a lot of the promises being made rely on external entities to make them happen. Governments do not decide the duration of prison sentences, and the Constitution can’t just be ‘amended’.

So when you’re putting that ‘X’ on a ballot, try not to get caught up in the theatrics. Do your research and vote wisely.

[source:businesstech]