Low qualifications required of KZN councillors: expert
A social scientist would like to see formal qualifications being introduced for people to serve as councillors or politicians.
Professor Paulus Zulu believes this could help reduce cases of political violence. He's been giving evidence at the Moerane Commission of Inquiry into political violence in KZN.
Zulu believes there are a number of underlying issues that have led to political violence - including no prerequisite for qualifications.
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He says this means more people are fighting for fewer positions - and even resorting to hiring hitmen.
"The political arena is a space where one needs to be a political analyst or to be connected to the political elite. There are no qualifications. So, the stakes are much higher. If a number of councillors would not be employed anywhere as labourers or ordinary factory workers. The salary of a councillor is quite high - I think it's well over R15 000 a month," he says.
Meanwhile, recommendations have been made to the Moerane Commission - tasked with investigating political killings in KZN.
Traditional leader Phathisizwe Chiliza, who is also the chairperson of the house of traditional leaders in the province, noted with concern the increase in killings.
He says society was no longer guided by its moral compass and that moral rejuvenation had to take place.
While Zulu suggested that introducing formal qualifications as a requirement to select councillors, MPLs and other political figures would be an ideal way to ensure the right person is chosen for the job.
Zulu says instead of being seen as a way to serve the people, politics is currently seen as a shortcut to money and power - making an example that members of provincial parliament with no qualifications are paid as much as university professors.