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A growing number of South Africa’s so-called ‘born free’ generation are turning their backs on the parties their parents have been loyal to since the dawn of democracy.

These disenchanted young people are not only becoming more apathetic to voting, they have come to view democracy as one big pyramid scheme.

Too young to remember the horrors of apartheid, the kids only see a country where a few connected people have all the power, and the majority face a daily struggle to survive. To them, this is the democracy their parents fought for, and they want no part in it.

“Voting is simply a pyramid scheme that makes the elected richer and richer,” says Olwethu Ndema, a 28-year-old intern at a government development agency, who plans to abstain for this year’s general elections. She’s not alone in this sentiment as only 40% of our younger generation are registered to vote in 2024. The rest have seemingly given up on the vision of Nelson Mandela.

Political parties have struggled to sell their dream of a better South Africa to young people who don’t seem to have enjoyed the fruits of the much-lauded democracy, so it is difficult to dispel the idea of a ‘pyramid scheme that makes the elected richer and richer’ when political leaders are about as far removed from the ‘voting fodder’ they court as you can get.

The young ones only know an ANC government, and if South Africa in 2024 is what you get for voting ANC, and participating in democracy, then it’s a hell no from them. But maybe this year will be different. But unless you have a Chancellor House up your sleeve, elections are expensive.

Up to 13 parties have formally declared their donations, including Able Leadership, ActionSA, African National Congress (ANC), African Transformation Movement (ATM), Change Starts Now, Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Independent South African National Civic Organisation (ISANCO), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Rise Mzansi, United Democratic Movement (UDM) and the Vryheidsfront Plus (VF Plus).

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Out of the parties, the Democratic Alliance topped the donations list with just over R65 million donated by donors who include Naspers Limited, Jonathan Ernest Oppenheimer and NF Oppenheimer.

Change Starts Now (CSN), which was only registered in February 2024, received over R35 million in donations which were received from three separate donors, namely Fynbos Ekwiteit (Pty) Ltd, Main Street 1564 and the Ball Family Trust.

Among the ‘fresh’ parties is the heavily bankrolled RISE Mzansi, who seems to be attracting some seriously wealthy donors, like the R15 million donation from Rebecca Oppenheimer.

ActionSA didn’t do too bad during this period either, snagging the second highest in donations, with just over R13.9 million.

This close to the elections, there is no doubt that the coffers have been filled even more. And the sheer amounts given to the ‘new’ parties show that even the wealthy want change.

People giving huge amounts of money to parties with only a slogan and a dream, and no track record in government, might also play into the ‘pyramid scheme’ narrative to those unfamiliar with party political funding. Election campaigns are expensive, and posters, canvassing staff and airtime on Cape Talk require a big wallet.

The Electoral Commission (IEC) says more than R170 million has been privately donated to political parties under the Political Party Funding Act. The donors might see this as an investment in democracy, but to the 60% of non-voting born frees it likely looks like buying a seat higher up on the pyramid.

In addition to private donors, the IEC has also disbursed R342 million to be shared among political parties serving in the national legislature.

Either way, if voters really want things to change, the young people need to begin taking their votes seriously. Huge donations to political movements allow them to spread their views, whether it is factual or complete rubbish. Perhaps it is time for donors to invest in voter-awareness campaigns with no affiliation to one single party and no ambition to wield power.

R15 million could go a long way in explaining to disillusioned-born frees why their vote is important, and how they can choose the future that they deserve. Voting is the only way to hold politicians accountable for crime, potholes, dilapidated schools, pit-toilettes, corruption, and a weak economy.

[source:fintimes&sabcnews]