We need to build a civic culture – Dr Brigalia Bam
UNISA DEMOCRACY CELEBRATIONS AND SPECIAL GRADUATION CEREMONY
14 August 2004: ZK Matthews Great Hall, UNISA
Acceptance Address
by
Dr. Brigalia Hlophe Bam
Chairperson, Electoral Commission of South AfricaVice-Chancellor,
Chairperson of Council,
Members of Senate,
Members of the Judiciary,
Members of the Diplomatic Corp,
Fellow Honorary Graduates,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen;
It is a deep honour for me to accept this honorary doctorate from a prestigious university that stands as a model in the transformation of higher education in South Africa, a university that has shown serious commitment to African Renaissance and has encouraged dialogue and collaborative research with academics from rest of the African continent. I also had the honour of serving on the last Council of UNISA before the merger. It is particularly satisfying and a great privilege to be in the same class as those upon whom honorary doctorates are also being bestowed today. I refer to the Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson and Dr Frene Ginwala.
This recognition is an important emblem of how far we have progressed along the long and difficult road in dismantling the apartheid system and building a democratic society. Our democracy is being forged on the crucible of our historical struggle for freedom, justice and equality. While the bitter legacies of our past will continue to shape the contours of South Africa’s future as a democracy, the genius of our constitution is that it embeds and enshrines the great values of equal freedom and opportunity for all.
These values are at the moral core of civil society as a social space. Against the backdrop of our racial, social and class divisions, they crucially depend on a certain disposition on the part of individuals in our society to cooperate and play by the rules of equity. For such a disposition to take root, persons must be willing to trust that unrelated and socially distant others will do the same. This is no easy task in our highly polarised society. And even though the Electoral Commission has successfully met the challenges of conducting our elections in a free and fair environment, sustaining the level of trust needed to make the rule of law and pluralism of groups work is notoriously difficult.
In the 2004 elections we witnessed an overwhelming response in our registration drive for the National Common Voters’ Roll which resulted in us registering over 20.7 million people. In the run-up to these elections, we saw robust competition among political parties during the campaigns. Throughout the process, the 37 registered political parties competed vigorously with one another but did not lose sight of the fact that they had to act in the interest of the country and our democracy. They showed restraint and a spirit of co-operation. We are all delighted that the elections were conducted peacefully and without violence and intimidation. Particularly, the achievement of the elimination of political “no-go” areas.
An important indicator of a maturing democracy is when members of society are united by strong bonds of trust and solidarity. This is a key ingredient in building social capital, understood as the norms and trustful relationships that enable individuals and groups to pursue mutually reinforcing goals. In a country such as ours where the scars of apartheid are still so visible on the body politic, deliberation and consensus that are the hallmarks of social capital must be encouraged at all levels of society; they help in developing a culture of trust and cooperation.
All South Africans must work together with greater vigour and commitment to enlarge the horizons of our democracy. We need to build a ‘civic culture’ which is a critical and enabling condition of democracy. Besides respect for rights and reciprocity, civic culture moves toward the creation of a community of solidarity. We are locked in a common partnership — whether as individuals or groups, government or citizens, men or women, white or black. Our solidarity and sense of the common good underpin the character of the non-racial order we are striving towards.
On the basis of this quest for the common good and for our democracy to continue to grow, there are four challenges: Firstly, although we are all now political equals, we need a high level of citizen engagement. Secondly, we must promote ‘horizontal’ relationships of reciprocity and cooperation over ‘vertical’ relationships of authority and dependence. Thirdly, a society like ours needs a high level of tolerance, trust and solidarity. The peaceful campaigns prior to the elections, and the commitment of political parties to abide with the Electoral Code of Conduct is a giant step in this direction. And fourthly, we must nurture civil society as an anchor of social cooperation and shared responsibility.
The Electoral Commission has had the privilege of trying to develop these synergies through our electoral system. I am encouraged, that while many challenges remain, we have developed a reserve of social capital that will stand our evolving democracy and civic culture in good stead.
The Commission and I would like to express our gratitude for this kind recognition to all those at UNISA who have considered me worthy of this honorary doctorate. I promise to uphold the solidarity that comes with it!
I thank you.
Dr B.H. Bam
Chairperson: Electoral Commission of South Africa
