Is a politician's face more important than a political movement's political ideology? This question has become a focal point in local politics following the performance of the Umkhonto we'Sizwe party, which was formed a few months ago, in the 2024 general elections.
While political parties crisscrossed the country trying to make their case and garner votes, MK was scuttling courts trying to get former president Jacob Zuma's face on the ballot paper. As results began to trickle in during the early hours of Thursday, MK proved a force to be reckoned with, dethroning the EFF as the country's third-largest party.
Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party failed to persuade the IEC to put the face of its founder, the late Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi, on the ballot paper – a less than impressive performance that raises the question of whether faces matter in local politics.
Dr. Dale McKinley doesn't think so.
“I don't think you can generally say that the whole population is interested in anything, but I would like to raise the issue of whether it was the IFP or MK. To me, I interpret a vote for MK as a protest vote against an individual,” he says.
McKinley further argues that the MK Party's achievements have nothing to do with the ANC's failure.
“It has nothing to do with the fact that the ANC didn't deliver, because the man was president of the country for 10 years and he's been part of the ANC all his life. So I don't think that was the issue, and it wasn't an issue of victimisation – 'we've been wronged and we're going to teach you a lesson'. It's the same with the IFP, I think there are people who identify with them, whether it's Mangosuthu Buthelezi or others. There are certain people who vote because of how they feel.”
But for Dr Imran Bukkus, the 2024 election results show there is an element of tribalism in the way people vote.
“There is certainly a tribal element, and I think this comes with the rise of populism. I don't want to dwell on international examples, but we have seen this internationally. In the United States, they are driving out Mexicans, they are driving out Muslims – so minorities are being scapegoated. There is also an ethnic element,” said Bucchus, sounding the alarm about this phenomenon.
“And we see that not only in MK, but also in the Patriotic Union. I think it's dangerous that our politics are degenerating into ethnic politics. It's really, really dangerous.”
But Buccas is not the first to point out elements of tribalism in people's voting choices. ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe expressed disappointment with MK's results and was quick to point out that it was a backward form of politics.
Professor Lesiba Teffo said Mantashe's comments were irresponsible.
“Zuma was sent to Harry Gwala in Natal and he had a huge following. Now he has left the ANC and he has a huge following. At that point he is tribalistic and the Zulus are tribalistic. At that point, when they were supporting the ANC, they were not tribalistic. Today, because they are supporting something else… Look, his statements are very irresponsible and such statements are the cause of conflict and civil war.”
The issue of illegal immigration, which the Patriotic League seems to be exploiting, was also raised by three esteemed members of the panel, with Mr Bucchus highlighting the tendency to scapegoat the weaker members of society.
DISCUSSION | Is face more important than political ideology?