Why the Freedom Front's election slogan is irresponsible

Apr 25, 2011

[The following was taken from the Local Government Bulletin, April 2011. The editor is Prof. Jaap De Visser, co-ordinator of the Local Democracy, Peace and Human Security Project at the University of the Western Cape]

The upcoming local government elections are a critical milestone for democracy in South Africa. Perhaps for the first time, there will be real choice and in quite a number of municipalities, it will be a close call.

Political parties should act responsibly in using election rhetoric.

The Freedom Front Plus has adopted the slogan ‘no services, no rates’. It suggests, at the very least, sympathy with ratepayers who are withholding their rates payments in protest against poor service delivery.

However, the Freedom Front Plus has some explaining to do. The Constitutional Court has made it clear that the relationship between a municipality and a member of its community is not simply a contract that can be suspended.

Instead, it is governed by the Constitution. Unsatisfactory service by Home Affairs does not entitle anyone to stop paying income tax, and nor do failures of a municipality entitle anyone to stop paying property tax.

The Constitution offers communities representative and participatory democracy in the form of regular elections and community participation so that they may hold the leadership of a municipality accountable. Read more ...