Opinion piece by Errol Naidoo

The Voter Participation Survey developed for the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) – for the Local Government Elections scheduled for November 2026 – shockingly proves what most citizens already know.

On 27 April 2026 (Freedom Day) South Africans will mark 32 years of democracy – since that historic day in 1994 when citizens from all backgrounds voted for the first time. Trust in the new democratic system was high and the nation anticipated a brighter future.

The ANC, the former liberation movement that struggled for 8 decades for a democratic South Africa – since its founding in 1912 – undermined and desecrated the very democracy it helped establish – within 3 decades – driven by a pathological and unrelenting greed.

The HSRC’s Voter Participation Survey indicates “popular support for democracy has fallen from approximately 65% in the mid-2000s to a record low of 36% in 2025/26. The fastest growing sentiment at 34% is political fatalism ie, “the type of government does not matter.”

“Preference for democracy is highest in the W/Cape at 46% and lowest in Gauteng 28%” – a province run into the ground by staggering ANC mismanagement and corruption. Trust in the democratic system in provinces mismanaged by ANC led coalitions are at historic lows.

This is bad news for the ANC because disillusionment with democracy is mainly among its voters. They see no point in voting because it does not change anything. Successive ANC governments promised “a better life for all.” But that promise applied only to ANC cadres.

What the ANC actually delivered is economic decline, infrastructure collapse, rising unemployment, deepening poverty, increased welfare dependency, degrading of democratic institutions, soaring crime & an incapable state controlled by organised crime.

In 2008, then President, Thabo Mbeki manipulated the NPA to protect a corrupt police commissioner. The ANC disbanded the effective ‘Scorpions’ because it investigated senior ANC officials. The ANC under Jacob Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa was, and is no different.

Ramaphosa’s ANC is going after the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) to again protect a national police commissioner implicated in corruption. The SA Police Service (SAPS) is riddled with corruption and captured by organised crime bosses.

Despite the ANC losing its 3 decade majority in the 2024 General Elections, it remains obsessed with controlling every aspect of governance – with a 40% minority. Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube published an open letter to warn the public about potential (ANC) sabotage in her department because she implemented lifestyle audits.

In order to shield malfeasance, ANC cadres in Parliament and the DBE conspire to malign Gwarube to undermine her efforts. The ANC uses the schooling system to indoctrinate not educate. Even the School Nutrition Feeding Scheme is riddled with corruption. Children go hungry while R336 million budgeted for nutrition remain unspent in a food plenty country.

In 2018, following the Zuma/Ramaphosa State Capture era and R1 billion Zondo Commission Inquiry, Ramaphosa promised lifestyle audits within weeks for all public officials to “root out corruption.” But the ANC made sure this was never implemented.

Thousands fought and many paid the ultimate price for a just and democratic South Africa. One nation under God in which all citizens regardless of race, language or gender will be protected as equal under the law. The ANC violated this ideal for its own selfish ends.

After 32 years of democracy, all Freedom Day reminds us of is what could have been. SA’s massive potential remains out of reach. We must rid ourselves of the ANC and its EFF/MK breakaways. Every citizen must work towards this noble goal to secure a better future.

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Date published: 07/04/2026
Feature images sourced from FreePik

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