As part of our ongoing efforts to contribute to civic education in South Africa, we hosted a #CivicsChat on 3 May to discuss the topic “What is Democracy? Commissioner Dr Nomsa Masuku from the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) shared her insights on the topic and the questions that were raised.
South Africa is celebrating 30 years of democracy since the first democratic elections in 1994, as it prepares for national and provincial elections in 2024. The Civics Chat opened with the screening of our Civics Academy video ‘What is Democracy’. Reflecting on the state of democracy in the country, Dr Masuku shared her thoughts on how South Africans remain committed to the democratic project but are often disappointed with what has been achieved so far, also highlighting issues of poor service delivery and corruption.
The Commissioner spoke about the importance of understanding that democracy is not limited to election days. Citizens have an important role to play between elections and they can strengthen democracy by being active citizens. She also emphasised that South Africa’s democracy is designed to amplify even the smallest voices, fostering political excitement and representation.
She linked this to the role of civic education in helping citizens discover the ways in which they can become active participants in the democratic process in South Africa. Dr Masuku spoke of the importance of civic education in the context of elections, especially in the context of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation. Civic education can empower individuals to understand and exercise their agency and encourage voter