Why do people keep voting and defending the ANC.

[Bryn]

The ANC already squanders billions in irregular expenditure, and an argument can be made in support of them being completely corrupt. Somehow I don't see giving them all the mines as a good idea.

 

[Cius]

I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker earlier this week. They were specifically fed up with all the corruption going on in my ANC governed town, in the same breath they also admitted to being a ANC supporter and said that they will always support the ANC.

This colleague then went on to say that hopefully things will get better once the DA takes over.

All I can say is that I was very confused, why keep on supporting someone when you yourself admit that they are corrupt?

This is exactly what I found many many times over many conversations. The African mentality is not ready for accountable democracy. The culture is still tied very much to monarchy where the chief does what the chief wants. After a few similar conversations I asked people why they accept corruption and the response is invariably something along the lines of "That is what chiefs do". Voting for a different chief is pointless to them as they fully expect that he would be as corrupt as his predecessor. As people get educated they move away from that way of thinking but the majority of South Africans do not have access to any kind of decent education. Anyways, hopefully the culture can evolve away from that way of thinking over time but so far it seems to be taking far too long. The one good thing is that many black guys who are now middle class and understand what failed audit reports year after year really mean have extended families living in rural areas and due to their wealth they hold a lot of respect with their families. As they educate their relatives things can change perhaps.