On Tuesday evening, SASCO (representing the ANC), DASO and EFFSC all took part in an inter-political debate hosted by the Students for Law and Social Justice society (SLSJ) and the Stellenbosch Debating Union (USDV). This event served as an opportunity for them to take part in a discussion about certain key topics before the elections with Professor Bradley Slade from Stellenbosch University as facilitator.
Slade, as a law professor, was chosen to lead the discussions around tricky topics such as land expropriation, progressive income tax, green energy, and queer rights along with the dismantling of the patriarchy.
A large number of students arrived at the venue in the Van der Sterr building, some donning merchandise from their chosen party, others dressed more neutrally. The EFF’s group stood out the most in their red, along with an EFF tablecloth and singing. They also stood out because they were the only group that had a woman amongst their two speakers.
Some of the points made during the evening did not seem to surprise the audience. The ANC says it still needs more time to fix the problems left over by apartheid, the DA claims it is the best at governance based off their track record in the Western Cape, and the EFF want to have land expropriation without compensation and have it all under the state’s custodianship.
SASCO’s speakers at the event. PHOTO: Lia Snijman
The main take-aways from SASCO were that the ANC supports progressive income tax on the wealthy because “we know who has the most money” and stated the need for redress; their support for green energy while also cautioning against making a sudden transition away from coal to avoid job loss; they stated the need to “adjust with the times” and to challenge traditional ways of thinking when it relates to women and members of the queer community in negative ways.
The remarks by SASCO that elicited the most muttering and jeers from the crowd were their firm belief that the ANC is at a new dawn and that the water crisis was fabricated by “those in blue”. They also closed off their speech by imploring people to “stick to the devil you know” by voting for the ANC.
DASO’s speakers at the event. PHOTO: Lia Snijman
Some of DASO’s main statements were that they reject progressive income tax because of their belief that “we cannot tax ourselves into prosperity” and that the problem rather lies with corruption; their plan to have land expropriation via the avenues that are already in place in the Constitution, mentioning Azania in Kayamandi as an example; they want women’s and queer rights to be treated in a practical way because they are human rights.
DASO’s comment that “they don’t think we should even be talking about women’s and queer rights at a political event because it should have been dealt with”, was met with loud reprimand from the audience, contending that it is an important issue, but they feel that it should not be used to garner votes. One of their closing remarks was that everyone complains and campaigns on social media a lot, but then forget that the biggest power lies with the people’s vote, concluding that “we will complain until Jesus Christ comes”.
EFFSC’s speakers at the event. PHOTO: Lia Snijman
The EFF’s major contributions were that we shouldn’t be fearmongering in terms of rich people (equated by them to white people) leaving the country simply because of higher taxes; their support for renewable and nuclear energy; they stated that if the land belongs to the state then it belongs to everyone as the state represents them; they also explained many practical ways that they would support women and the queer community, of which one example was giving 50% of the land to women and having gender-affirming treatment available at public health care facilities.
In their closing remarks the EFF likened the ANC to Moses that led the exodus but warned that the people will die before reaching the promised land.
Although the parties heavily criticised each other and at times interrupted one another, the debate ended with the speakers thanking the organisers for the opportunity to debate and all the parties shaking hands.