Recurring disruptions and inter-party strife tarnished an election debate organised and chaired by Grocott's Mail at the Extension 9 Hall in Joza Township last Thursday.
Recurring disruptions and inter-party strife tarnished an election debate organised and chaired by Grocott's Mail at the Extension 9 Hall in Joza Township last Thursday.
What was meant to be a the first municipal election debate to take place in the Grahamstown township area – that allowed parties to answer questions regarding their plans to solve ongoing problems in Makana Municipality – turned into a rowdy and unsuccessful affair.
Many, if not all political speakers, were either interjected by raucous cheers during their speeches, or booed by opposition party supporters. Over and above continuously singing supporters throughout the event, each speaker's address – from the major players to minnows in Makana politics – were delayed at some point by chronic interruptions.
Representatives from all locally-based political parties contesting the elections in Makana tried to pitch their party's reform strategies with regards to problems ailing the municipality.
The ANC, DA, Azapo, and newly-founded political parties Cope and Mind also took the opportunity to blow their own trumpets and take swipes at the other parties. All speakers were given five minutes to address the crowd of 150, and answer the question: "What are the key issues facing Makana over the next 5 years, and how do you intend to address them?"
ANC councillor Julia Wells listed the ANC's successes of the last five years, and spoke about what it plans to do in the next five years, including investing more in education. Mongezi Soxujwa, the secretary of Azapo replied to this in his allocated time by saying, "17 years after democracy, [the non]delivery of services is nothing to write home about here in Makana. Hundreds of our people still live in shacks…"
This was when about 30 ANC supporters stormed into the hall singing, and interrupting Soxujwa. The Azapo speaker resigned to taking his seat with his arms folded, until the noise subsided a few minutes later and the event could continue.
Cope deputy chairperson Nozipho Plaatjie, expressed the party's desire for "leaders who are honest, hard working, ethical and devoted to serving the people." Soon after, her address was drowned by booing supporters of opposition parties too.
The next speaker, Mind Ward 4 councillor candidate Leon Trompetter, promised those who were listening that, "Mind is going to rock this election," before adding, "we don't do promises…" at which point he was interrupted by the crowd and could not continue.
DA councillor Xolani Madyo, the last speaker, used his opportunity to "look at the record of this [current]council", recounting failures of the current Makana Municipality government, including underspending and the continued use of the bucket system, as well as water problems. But he too was cut off mid-speech by the crowd's din.
Despite continuous appeals throughout the two hours of the event by a visibly-agitated Grocott's Mail editor Steven Lang, who also acted as chairperson of the debate, it continued regardless. As soon as a speaker addressed the group, unbearable noise would follow, prompting an attending Rhodes University student to call the whole event "chaotic" and greatly influenced by a "mob mentality".
After the debate shuddered to a halt, and despite a few supporters that still hovered near Lang to ask the politicians questions, "under the current circumstances, we're not having a debate," he concluded.
