For Muhammad Khalid Sayed, South Africa’s democracy, now three decades old, is not broken, but it is uneasy. Following his participation on the “GNU One Year On! Coalition or Collision” Democracy Unplugged, marking a year of the GNU in South Africa, he exclusively shares his views on South Africa’s current political landscape. The ANC’s Western Cape spokesperson and Member of the Provincial Parliament calls the nation’s democracy “healthy,” though in need of a stronger heartbeat from citizens and leaders alike.
“Our democracy is robust,” he says. “All three spheres of the state interact in a robust manner, even with tension and conflict. But public participation needs to increase.” Sayed worries about public disengagement. “Our voter turnout is not that great,” he admits. “Participation in decision-making and oversight is not where it should be. That’s our fault as representatives. We must create greater space for people to hold us accountable.”
A Democracy Still Unequal
For Sayed, democracy’s strength must be measured by how it transforms people’s lives. “Yes, there’s been gradual improvement, but it’s not where we should be,” he says. “The legacy of apartheid has not been fully addressed in both discourse and material conditions.”
That inequality, he argues, has deepened social division. “Our political and race debates are extremely polarised. Identity debates have become divisive. The responsibility lies upon us as politicians. How do we engage?”
Coalitions and Stability
Coalition politics, he believes, are “a two-edged sword.” Some have brought instability, with “councils moving from leadership to leadership,” while others, like Cederberg, have proven steady. “Coalition politics are new to our terrain, so it’s going to be a learning experience,” he says.
Rebuilding Trust
Sayed believes restoring faith in politics starts with transparency. “Politicians need to be extremely transparent about what they do and what they don’t do, including our personal interests,” he says. “We must not run away from accountability.”
His appeal is for service, not power. “Let’s bring solutions to the practical realities facing people. Work together for the betterment of our people, not just to gain power or keep others out.”
Youth and Renewal
As a product of the ANC Youth League, Sayed places his hope in the next generation. “At moments when the ANC has undergone major challenges, it’s been the Youth League that revived it,” he says. “Today’s young leaders are energetic, respectful, and critical when things aren’t done right.”
Looking ahead, he calls for ethical, community-driven leadership. “They must be grounded in community struggles,” he says. “They must build alliances across divides to ensure the best interests of our people are protected.”
“Our democracy is robust,” Sayed concludes, “but it will only remain healthy if we, the public representatives, use the powers it gives us to hold the executive and ourselves truly accountable.”
