Before I start stepping into solutions, I really want to lay a foundation of common understanding. Just to make sure we are on the same page.
– Target Audience
I believe there is a constructive gap between what the people want and what the people need.
When I say “people”, I mean to total population of South African residents. That includes immigrants here looking to make a better living.
Statistics of South Africa tells us some undeniable truths. Demographics tell us a story of what our population consists of.
Combine the stats with the fact that South Africa is run as a democracy, where the majority are meant to dictate the rule of land, we are left to conclude that the masses rule.
This democratic approach is preferable to that of dictatorship of course.
The reality and unspoken truth though is that when it comes to being elected to rule/govern our land, the masses (who hold majority vote) have constantly voted for corrupt officials to remain in power. Consistently so for the last 2 generations.
This vote towards incompetence is therefore motivated more by public opinion than by performance based outcomes.
Part of the contributing vote is that the majority of South Africa have not had access to education platforms that can connect and empower. The majority of the mass voters (who have the decision on who rules) are therefore frequently not formally educated.
Education in my opinion allows for independent thinking. Less emotional based and more factual based decision making. So I would like to think.
I admit that this generalized way of thought can be seen as offensive. It is insensitive and I apologize. If you are offended, please embrace my discussion as hypothetical (with a flaw).
All I wanted to conclude though is that to become President of South Africa, one needs to win the vote of the masses. If the country has a high level of unemployed and unskilled or uneducated work force, then one can consider that in order to be elected as President, one has to win the masses vote.
If the masses are uneducated, then their opinions are easily swayed with ideas of socialism. Public funded housing is a great way to sell your contribution to those who do not have work or the skillset to finance the ownership of a house easily.
Therefore if the masses are uneducated, then the short term idea of complete socialism tends to sound great.
One hears stories of how the current ruling party has rallies in areas where the masses live, offering free food and clothing (branded t-shirts) just before voting days. This could reinforce the idea of short term sight (hard to prove though).
Target audience though, when it comes to winning votes, is the masses though. That’s how to get elected.