izens want and expect for it to be able to retain its legitimacy" (Manheim, 1986: 54 - 55).
             Conventional wisdom indicates that there is a worldwide decline in political participation; however, Dalton (1998: 51) argues that communal activity is an area which is becoming more popular as a means of participation. The question that needs to be asked is why there is a decline in political participation? Three indicators that better show the decline include "sagging electoral turnout, rising anti-party sentiment and the decay of civic organizations" (Norris, 2002: 1). The three modes that can thus be identified are voting, campaign activity and communal activity.
             "Voting participation is one of the essential features of representative government, but it is not sufficient in itself to ensure that representative democracies work effectively" (Norris, 2002: 2). For effectivity, a broader base of political participation is needed. "Elections are the most common way for people to express their political preferences and the half-empty ballot box is taken as the most common symptom of democratic ill health" (Norris, 2002: 3). When citizens' start feeling that their political action cannot affect the political process or cannot make a difference they will stop caring and thus participating in political events, because for them, the trust they had in the political system faded. Voters can also feel that if their parties' chance to beat the opposition is rather slim, that they do not see the need to vote, because they believe their party is already doomed, as was the case in South Africa with the ANC being the dominant party, without any close opposit
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