Tags:
Journalism of Courage
JOHANNESBURG, FEB 25: Political analysts and observers in South Africa have expressed concern at the “apathetic attitude” of the Indian community towards the forthcoming general elections in the country.
In a recent disclosure, the Independent Elections Commission (IEC) has said that in two of the biggest concentration of Indian residential suburbs in Durban, Chatsworth and Phoenix, the percentage of population registering as voters has not even reached 20 per cent.
The traditional Indian residential suburbs Inkwazulu-Natal also appeared to be “least interested” in registration for the elections scheduled for July, it said.
A third round of registration will take place in the first week of March, but, according to the analysts, the Indian community is not expected to show any more interest.
Voicing the concern expressed by political observers, prominent sociologist and political commentator Dr Ashwin Desai said most Indians have not registered and therefore would not vote in the forthcomingelections.
Stating that “this is not simply apathy” Desai said, “it denotes a rejection of a political system that has precluded constituency-based politics, so that for many people in the Indian community, politics is a distant, alienating process that they can not influence.”
