Hope & Vision
Over the last few years, it seems like the South African story has taken a turn for the worst. Many believe that the Rainbow Nation and optimism of the 1990s is gone. It's undeniable that times have gotten a lot more difficult for many in recent years. To the point where many hard-working South Africans have given up and have left or are wanting to leave South Africa.
We were promised a better life for all and many South Africans feel like they were sold a lie, with their life no better today than 25 years ago, with many even worse off.
Patriot Democracy believes in the power of the people and if we want a better life, we only need to unite to create that better future together as one nation, working towards a better future for everyone.
Vision Of The Future
Patriot Democracy wants to paint you a picture of the next South Africa, but to see this picture we need to remember where we have come from. South Africa has reinvented and transformed itself several times over its history, and there is no reason we can't do it again.
We are a very diverse and multicultural country made up of many different people. In the past, these differences were used to divide us. In our future, it will be what unites us as we come together under a common goal of a better South Africa for all.
Freedom To Be Me
The laws and rights that govern the people of a country matter, and are vital for a Democracy to survive and thrive. What is often overlooked is that these rights and Democratic processes are vital to the poor and vulnerably being treated fairly.
Patriot Democracy believes that in the eye of the law every South African should be equal and every South African should have an equal opportunity to provide for his family and prosper regardless of how and where they were born.
These same rights have been described in many different ways by different countries, historians and philosophers. Famously 17th century English philosopher John Locke described these same rights and freedoms as "life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness".
Patriot Democracy believes the rights and freedoms of a Democracy can be broken down into three distinct groups.
- Human rights: The right to life, and live a life of your choosing.
- Economic rights: The right to property, and trade freely.
- Democratic rights: The right to choose a government.
Our Constitution & The People
Today all these rights and freedoms are provided for in the South African Constitution. Each right and freedom builds on each other, and you cant take any of them away without infringing on the others.
The problem is that not everyone is benefiting equally from these rights and freedoms. Many still live as they did under Apartheid. Can we consider South Africa a free and Democratic country if millions of its citizens do not know, understand or exercise their rights?
To some Democracy may seem no different to Apartheid and it is difficult to fight for one's rights if your life does not change once you get those rights.
Freedom Without Fear
We do not live in a free Democracy if we fear our government. To call ourselves a free Democracy, we should be able to speak out about anything our government might be doing or not doing without fear of any consequences.
Consequences can come in many forms, from death threats by anonymous supporters, public shaming, threats of stopping government advertising or revoking a critical license and negatively affecting a person's business.
Our current ANC lead government has slowly become more and more authoritarian. This has lead to more and more people fearing the ruling party, with many people and businesses putting their head down and hoping to not draw the attention of the government.
The more this happens, the more the rights and freedoms bestowed on us by our Constitution mean less and less. Do we really have the rights and freedoms if we don't feel safe using them?
The People Rule
In a truly free Democracy, the people have all the power, and the government serves the people. This power is all provided for by a person's right to vote and choose their government.
By all measures South Africa's voting systems and processes are free and fair and when somebody votes their vote counts.
So if we choose as a people, we could change our government and in the process change our lives. The people can take control legally and without violence any time they see fit to do so and in the process hold politicians accountable to the people.
Take Freedom To The People
Patriot Democracy would like to see all South Africans living the best life they choose in a vibrant and free Democracy. To achieve this, we need to take Democracy to the people of South Africa that don't know or don't understand what their rights are or how to exercise them.
The education and spatial planning laws of our past are holding us back from fully realizing our Democracy. Patriot Democracy believes that every person regardless of education, background or location should be educated in Democracy and political accountability, and the rights they have and how they can use them to improve their lives.
Together We Heal & Prosper
It is in everybody's best interest that our Democracy grows and matures, and to achieve a mature Democracy, we need to find creative ways of fixing the past and uplifting the poor out of poverty created by Apartheid.
Patriot Democracy promotes and fights for the rights of the people of our country and believes that the only way we can fix the wrongs of the past is to do it together, where people help people. The government cannot heal our wounds through laws and money, but the people can through friendship and partnerships.
Patriot Democracy pictures a future where South Africans are not divided by history, but come together as one country and one people holding politicians accountable and protecting, helping and uplifting the poor out of poverty.