Litnet

It is pertinent to welcome you all here today on World Press Freedom Day. Long may we be part of it. And we are here in the Fugard Theatre. I have been associated with theatre for the past forty years, so I feel safe here. You are also safe here. We don’t have to prove anything. We must improve everything.

Within a year we will have our 2014 general election, probably the most important election in our democracy – and yes, I have said that about each of the last four. But this fifth election, in 2014, is unique. For the first time in our history we will have citizens voting who have no experience of legalised racism, no experience of separate development, no experience of official apartheid. A generation of born-free South Africans with no baggage, no guilt, no sentiment about the Struggle or a commitment to support a former liberation movement. These young people, born after Nelson Mandela was released from prison, are exercising their constitutional rights for the first time – a vote that is secret, sacred and based on freedom of choice.

Freedom of choice.

I am here with you because we have one thing in common. Most of us are citizens of South Africa – and those who are not are terribly welcome, even if you did land at a National Key Point! I am also proud to be a citizen and a voter going into the 20th year of a democracy that no one ever expected could or would happen. It has happened and it is happening and I will vote in 2014 and will use all the tricks of my trade to encourage and inspire those in doubt to vote too. Not to vote twice, but to vote as well.

The tricks of my trade will also help me to explain why we are here. In terms of theatre, let’s say that out of the 126 political parties registered – well, up to an hour ago – ten are significant as parliamentary players. One is the ruling party, one is the official opposition and the others are … well, the others are also there. So theatrically we have a very successful political soap opera starring one democratically elected star and called ANC Got Talent.

We also have a collection of ten songs by talented performers  – the DA, the ID, the FF+, COPE, IFP, ACDP, PAC, with a new understudy in the wings call Agang.

But where is the show? How can those catchy passionate tunes attract an audience without a title? An audience is essential to keep the show going. They buy tickets. They commit themselves and spread the word. They attend. They vote with their interest. In my experience the right title is the first step to a successful show. A show that will run for a long time. A show that will complement the soap opera next door.

I am not here to attack the ANC or praise the DA, or vice versa. I respect them all and always thank them for what they do for me, how they inspire me, how they put the words into my mouth. I know my DA and I know my ANC. They put on good one-person shows. But I am concerned about those other songs without a show, without a good title, without the bums on seats, the votes, the crosses on the ballots.

It’s all about choice. It’s all about having those ten songs that don’t sound the same, that focus on different issues, that come as diverse opinions. They are all important in finding that essential balance that makes democracy the most perfect imperfect political system in history – so far. And it is good to know that the other show next door has all the resources after 20 years of successful performances, even in power outages and backstage strikes, that they can afford to give away so many complimentary tickets.

If the glass must remain half full and never be seen as being half empty, let us acknowledge the good citizens in government, in opposition, in the civil service, the army, the police, the municipalities and councils, provincial and national. They are far more in numbers than the bad ones that can only just fill page one of any newspaper. There are many more pages to focus on. And so it is my hope that today’s contribution will be an encouragement to the talented songwriters, the singers, the chorus members and choreographers that make up the opposition, to see their role in this coming election extravaganza not as opposition to democracy, but as a passionate, united, committed alternative to make our democracy more successful, safer and accessible to us, to you, to them – to all the citizens. And especially to the young voters who will choose their future with confidence because they have a constitution that will protect them all as long as we protect the constitution.

I have a name for such a collection of political energies:

SOUTH AFRICA’S DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL ALTERNATIVE: SA’S DNA.

The name and domain are registered and waiting to be used to attract that audience that will keep the lights on in South Africa’s Grand Boulevard of Choice: www.pdu.co.za