ANC needs urgent reform to retain support

The ‘third force’ behind the community protests against poor service delivery, mismanagement and indifferent local authorities that is sweeping the country is poverty. Blaming ‘third force’ elements, ‘criminal elements’, closet supporters of former President Thabo Mbeki, and other conspiracies, for the wave of service protests are irresponsible.

Under the Mbeki administration, the preferred solution was to blame a ‘third force’, send in the police in a show of force, dispatched a few agents of the National Intelligence Services, then arrest so-called ‘ring-leaders’. To repeat the Mbeki approach, would not only inflame grassroots passions even more, but it would be patently dishonest, when the new administration under President Jacob Zuma came to power precisely because it campaigned to end such strong-arm tactics, and be more pro-poor, pro-democracy and to speed up service delivery.

The reality also is that many ANC leaders during and before the April national elections irresponsibly whipped up expectations of immediate delivery, if only the Mbeki cliché is pushed out. The protesters are mostly ANC supporters, sympathisers and voters. They are protesting because the democracy has failed them in two ways. It is more likely that many have already approached local elected representatives over slow service delivery, mismanagement and corruption, and were then arrogantly rebuffed. Others have most probably also approached local branch leaders of the ANC to complain, but have found their complaints falling on stony ground.

In such circumstances, taking to the streets is often the last resort. This means that both the democratic institutions within the ANC and within the broader society have failed them. This must be fixed. It is going to be very difficult for the president to send senior ANC leaders to protesting communities to tell to them to be patient – they have been patient for 15 years now. It is also likely that any message to protestors that the global financial crisis will make it harder to create jobs, deliver houses and roll-out social services faster will be rejected.

Given that South Africa is in a recession, but leaders splash out in conspicuous consumption frenzies, buying cars of R1.5m, and having large ‘blue-light’ entourages, with armies of bodyguards, drivers, assistants, and then for good measure regularly throwing huge parties on taxpayers’ money, has enraged many ordinary long-suffering citizens. To ask communities to tighten their belts, moral authority is necessary. But conspicuous consumption and extravagant expenses erode the moral authority of leaders.

President Zuma must call an emergency – as part of a broader emergency package to fight off the devastating effects of the recession – in the 20 most depressed municipalities across the country. He then needs to fire those who prove to be corrupt, mismanaged or run patronage machines, whether on ethnic or political grounds, or political allies – especially if these are close political allies. Where possible, national government must take over these municipalities, for a restricted period, until capacity is restored. The president must then nationally and internationally call for applications to all vacant jobs. He must then personally make it a priority to oversee the appointment of only the best candidates. The process should finally cut out political, ethnic patronage appointments, and then let the new appointees sign performance contracts - which should be enforced.

The recession has made it urgent that the president must now roll out a universal basic income grant to the poorest. Then the president must ban all ministers from buying expensive cars. He must also cut down official ‘blue-light’ entourages to one car, and demand en route ministers must sit it out in snail-pace traffic like any other ordinary citizen. Then the president must ban all official government parties, junkets and lunches.

But the promises of Polokwane, which promised the renewal of the ANC’s internal democratic processes, must also be made real now. Democratic ways of elections, decision and policy-making and participation within the ANC, from branch level upwards, must now be enforced. Poorer black South Africans, want both the democratic and economic fruits of the post-apartheid dispensation - they deserve that, and it’s long overdue.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMBAZUKA NEWS

* This article previously appeared in The Sowetan.
* William Gumede is author of Thabo Mbeki and the Battle for the Soul of the ANC.
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