South Africa: Catholic newspaper urges voter involvement despite one-party rule

February 19, 2014

South Africa’s Catholic weekly, the Southern Cross, has urged citizens to vote in elections scheduled for May 8, "because the right to vote was won with the blood of those who fought for this universal law.”

The Southern Cross acknowledges that many South Africans are disillusioned by the democratic process, and voter turnout may be low. The newspaper attributes much of that apathy to the unrivalled power of the ruling African National Congress party. “South Africa’s democracy is handicapped by the absence of an opposition,” the newspaper says. Still the Catholic paper says that democratic change is possible, and encourages participation.

 

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Further information:

• South African Bishops: "Go and vote, because this right has been won with blood (Fides)