Voters make their mark

THE millions of voters who voted in this year's local government election on Wednesday have proved those who predicted a massive voter stay-away wrong

By yesterday afternoon the IEC had confirmed that the voter turnout in this year's elections was 56 percent of the registered voters.

This is double the 28 percent voter turnout recorded in 2006. More importantly, the turnout exceeds the international aggregate of 46 percent participation in local government elections.

Expert opinion is that voter turnout in local government elections is generally low globally.

By coming out in such numbers the voters were essentially saying they might be unhappy about service delivery but they want to exercise their democratic right in choosing who should deal with their grievances.

They have utilised one of the most important rights the new democratic South Africa South Africa has given them - the right to vote.

The challenge for them, and for those they have voted into power, is how to defend the democracy their 1994 vote delivered.

This can only happen if both parties understand that the democracy South Africa needs goes beyond "government of the people".

It is "government of the people by the people".

This is the kind of government that is committed to, not only providing resources, but also to end socioeconomic inequalities and ensure that the resources are allocated equally.