Just a thought
There was a time not so long when public service was more than about plastic titles shining on dark wood stretched desks in plush offices that smell of nurtured leather. We have fallen in love with characteristics of leaderships, fallen in love with the ego stroking poetry of positions and intoxicating punch of power. Perhaps our political organisations have been contaminated by a wide spread of shallow, Macbeth-like ambition. I say this because what i see is a battle for power rather than a battle to serve ordinary South Africans longing for more than the cold reality of poverty, crime and disease.
There was a time not so long ago when ANC members spoke truth to power for the purpose of principle rather than the servitude of camps. It is these situations of invested interest where we will see the dilution of truth. It will become a fluid abstract concept subjective to what camp you represent or what interest you hunger. For instance, ill discipline is Lekota addressing Jacob Zuma but it is not ill discipline when Julius Malema is calling Thabo Mbeki a coward, this is a blatant double standard that has become regular in an environment of pledging loyalty to camps for political longevity or political entrance. I support one camp only and that is one of principle, therefore i am a disciple of truth. I am in all quantum of thought anti camp but instead pro truth and ideas that refused to be confined to the marginalisation of camps that hunger for higher positions. It is my belief that in this hunger even principled men will squint their eyes to see shit as pudding. On countless instances we have seen ANC stalwarts hold their tongues when our fragile democracy was threatened by the public display of unruly behaviour. The motives of our leaders have been a mixture of job protection and vile vendettas. Its quite funny really, some of these men walked in death strides fearlessly for liberation, but when it comes to risking your pay well that’s another story. I guess death has nothing on an outstanding mortgage. If the apartheid government had known the method to destroy the ANC was to give them positions, 94 would have been 84.
This commitment to camps seems to have become about career elongation and career creation instead of it being about the yearning to better implement the very policies we voted for. But we are to blame for the status quo and the lesson learnt lies in slogans chanted by exiled soldiers dreaming of a new south Africa”POWER TO THE PEOPLE”. We thought this was reference to black people, but actually the people is a reference to the powerless, the subjects and ordinary citizens under a rule that has forgotten the masses. We are to blame because we disarmed ourselves of the very weapon we bled for….our vote. We disarmed ourselves by allowing to be conditioned by the accepted notion that we can only vote for the ANC. I would never suggest we vote any other organisation, even in its state i love the ANC, but what i am saying is that predictability is always the platform for abuse. We have become too predictable as citizens like the mentally broken wife who will still come home and cook after her abusive husbands disarms her of choice. We are too predictable and we have accepted the unfavourable compromise of not having alternatives. Our reactions are predictable too, a flurry of letters to editors and sms’s to friends displaying our displeasure, but like clockwork after that last full stop we will still come home and cook. Would you like a beer with that honey.
Mayihlome Tshwete
If existent voting alternatives maintains accountability, and predictability contributes to the demise of once principled and rectitudinous political parties, how are citizens empowered and political legitimacy holistically restored if in actuality conceptualizing change is defied by sentiments as “never suggest we vote any other organisation”? If such suggestions are not authentic, does the movement toward unpredictability not remain merely symbolic, scoffed by politicos recognizing the transparency of continued security? If citizens are to credit the power of their vote, the “suggestion” toward “other organizations” must not die but be given momentum. The populace must be challenged and equipped with the capacity to go beyond charisma and stale allegiance in search for critical and substantive evaluation of parties’ offerings. Where the positives outweigh the negatives, the best party, whichever it shall be, is left standing to serve.
The reality of african politics is that thier deeply effected by sentiments.I carry those same sentiments and emotional attachmment to black,green and gold.My father gave over four decades of his life to the ANC.He spemt 15 years in jail.My mother spent years in exile and many more on run from the agents of aparthied.My acknowledgement of the problem of leadership arrogance is a big step.In my life i have never been at the point to question the motives our comrades.I am now.Even the momentum you speak of ebed will start with an aknowledgement that we have a probelm.People minds will not be change as easily as you suggesting ,an understanding of our peoples history will have to be regarded,an understanding of the sentiment you seem to downplay will have to be regarded.Black americans who have had more voting experience than us are still sentimental about thier votes.I think also you forget the impact of symbolic displays have had on politics.The ANC still carries the most beneficial policies black south africans can be empowerd by.The problem is the arrogance which will grow and manifest into a attitude which will have our leaders thinking they do not answer to us.If the way to elimnate this attitude is to withold our vote or give to other party than so be it .Ebed i appreciate your constructive critism but as you well know politics is not black and white.We spend most of our time grappling with complexities in the shades of grey.Just a thought is in that grey.It is not black to suggest that we dont vote the ANC nor is white to say people must create a new party.What is important deliberation and exchange of ideas.If their is a problem with the staus qou we will see it while we debate.
Mayihlome
Is it such a bad idea to have a credible alternative political party in South Africa? How do we as voters verify their credibility and authenticity?