Reporter: Ayesha McAdams-Mahmoud

First-time voters and other young people may give vent to their political frustrations by composing lyrics and dancing to music selected by popular DJs at the Pre-Polls Party in Cape Town tonight.

"Politicians have to understand that they are not gathering these youth, so we are going to do it for them," said Helen Fernand, director of the Transformative Human Rights Unit (THRU), the educational organisation co-sponsoring the party at 169 on Log.

Young people are to be invited to give recorded interviews on how important politics and politicians are to them and about their hopes for the next 10 years of democracy. Fernand intends taking the responses to Parliament and using them for a radio programme.

"(Politicians) want to profit from democracy, but they don't want to invest in the democratic process," said Fernand.

She thinks young people have few connections to political figures that support their causes and events.

"If you don't engage first-time voters, how do you expect to get them for the election?"

At the party Fernand is to distribute information packets from the Independent Electoral Commission and on how the public can influence parliament.

But the party is not all about politics.

Fernand has invited popular radio DJs Suga of Good Hope FM and Irma G of Kfm to provide background music, demonstrating that "you are able to party and still have a conscience."

"THRU always tries to use popular mediums," Fernand said.

She said she had chosen the popular 169 on Long because it was a place where "every colour and nationality goes" and "feels like they have a right to be there."

During the party, a graffiti artist is to produce work inspired by 10 years of democracy.

The Pre-Polls Party begins at 10pm and admission is R40.

To receive an invitation send an SMS to 082 833 3545.

Cape Times
13 April 2004
Page 5