The birth of The Congress of the People (COPE ) in late 2008 has indeed presented new and interesting dynamics to the political landscape of the country. For the first time, analysts say there is "credible" opposition to the growing ANC dominance. Whether or not COPE is a real threat to ANC remains to be seen but general agreement is that it was time for another force to come in and many view this as a positive and necessary step in the consolidation of democracy in South Africa. Such is necessary for averting the scenario in which other countries in the region led by liberation movements have fallen into.
Death treats
The build-up to the elections has not been easy in some parts of the country and especially in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) with violence marring the campaign trail. In KZN, disruption of political rallies, death threats and even assassinations are being reported, in some places, no-go-areas for certain political parties are becoming common-place.
The Church may ensure a fair election
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has made a special call for churches to play an active role in the election process to ensure that the elections are free and fair. Areas in which the church can intervene vary from violence monitoring, conflict resolution, civil education, and election observation amongst others.
Recently however, the role of the Church in politics has come under a special spotlight with the official announcement of Bishop Mvume Dandala by COPE as their presidential candidate in the April elections. COPE states that this new dynamic is bringing in the desperately needed moral card against a background of corruption and a widening gap between the leaders and the people and that years of ANC rule have not brought change to the South African people. Instead, poverty and inequality are on the rise.
Political involvement raises questions
The big question in the minds of many South Africans is whether that is the right thing to do for COPE and if at all the church should be involved in politics. On the other hand, questions are also being asked whether the church is not a political institution itself and how it can/should separate itself from the political context it exists in. But what about the prophetic voice of the church?
NCA Southern Africa office is following the South African elections with interest and is journeying together with a number of its KwaZulu Natal based partners who are visibly working on the ground in a variety of areas including discussions with political parties on violence, civic education, distribution of various information and election observation.
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