The latest study conducted for the Electoral Commission by the Human Sciences Research Council points to a troubling decline in South Africans’ belief in democracy, with the “demand for democracy” falling from 65% in the early 2000s to just 26% today, driven by growing frustration over corruption, poor service delivery, and a widening gap between political promises and delivery. Concerns are also being raised about declining trust in institutions such as the Electoral Commission of South Africa, alongside alarmingly low voter registration figures and fears of even lower turnout in upcoming elections. Lawson Naidoo, Executive Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution, speaks to John Maytham about what this means for the future of South Africa’s democratic system and the risks of governments being elected by an ever-smaller share of the population.

Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. 

A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk 

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