Common sense is not sufficient for politicians
Last year I submitted two applications to the Democratic Alliance (DA). My first application was for admission to the DA Potential Candidate Programme (PCP). This programme is intended to equip aspirant public representatives with the necessary skills and knowledge to enter politics.
My second application was to be considered as a Member of the National Assembly after the 2014 general elections. After a rigorous process, I was selected as one of the 100 people, fortunate enough to be admitted into the programme. During the programme, there were minimal face-to-face interactions with course facilitators.
We did most of our studies and interactions through an online learning system which the DA named Umthombo Gateway. This platform was built using an open source technology called Sakai. Sakai is currently used by Wits University, University of Cape Town and several other universities that are ranked in the Top 100 in the world based on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The pace of the programme was very fast and the workload huge and it gave participants a sense of what happens when you are public representative.
The programme constituted of three components
1. Personal Development: This includes aspects such as - "Me as a Brand", how to write and deliver a speech, political writing, communications strategies, assertiveness & self confidence, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, diversity training, negotiation skills, teamwork, etc.
2. Knowing the DA: This includes aspects such as - ideology, history, constitution, policy, brand and communication, activism, Performance Development Management System, etc.
3. Public Policy: This includes aspects such as - governance and ethics in the public sector, public policy analysis, development policy, intergovernmental relation, etc.
Each of the participants in the Potential Candidate Programme was provided with a political mentor who was either a Member of Parliament or Member of the Provincial Legislature. The mentors and mentees were required to meet once a month. The interactions between the mentors and mentees bridged the gap between the theory and practical aspects of being a public representative.
The part I particularly enjoyed during the course was the weekend retreat. We were divided into three groups and each of the group had one retreat, either in Gauteng, Durban or Cape Town. I joined the Cape Town group and had fabulous time. During the retreats, we did team-building exercises, delivered speeches and provided each other with the feedback. By the time I went to the airport, I was already missing the group.
The DA should be commended for having human resources development programmes like this for politicians. Serving as a public representative should not be thumb-sucked. Due to the complexity of our public policy trajectory, it's no longer sufficient for the public representatives to employ common sense when then they perform their duties.
I have no doubt that the Potential Candidate Programme will come in handy for those who will successfully become public representatives. Most of the skills acquired in the programme are actually essential in any profession and in our daily lives. I am curious to see how most of my group members will end up politically.
Rabelani Dagada is DA Candidate for the National Assembly
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