Durban - Frustrated ANC members have resorted to drastic action including blockading main roads and destroying property because the party’s leadership is not listening to their concerns.
This was the view of political analyst Thabani Khumalo, who said the level of frustration among ANC members had reached “boiling point”.
“While the ANC may say their processes are democratic, there is a conflict between what communities want and what the leaders want. Most of those protesting have used the internal processes of the party, but no one has responded to them,” Khumalo said on Monday.
Economist Professor Bonke Dumisa said that protests were going to occur more frequently leading up to the local government elections in August.
“These protests have a more negligible impact on the economy, but have a direct negative impact on communities, particularly black communities where people are prevented from going to work or school. However, on a relative scale, we cannot underestimate the R3 million worth of damages reported at one business. It is worrying.”
Dumisa said the most worrying aspect of the protests was that the Standard & Poor’s report last week stated that political tension affected the perception of the country and could affect its rating.
“So we cannot look at the protests as a Durban issue, but it’s a problem affecting the country. Metropolitan cities will have to make efforts to ensure that political players restore calm.”
Dr Sagie Narsiah of UKZN’s School of Social Sciences said it appeared the channels of communication in the ANC for members to voice their concerns were not being used or were not working.
Narsiah said obtaining positions in local government appeared to be more about “patronage and access to resources” than serving the public.
“People with vested interests could be using hired mobs to get the positions they want, and it is easy to get people to join in because they have nothing to lose.”
Narsiah said the protests could also be caused by communities - which would be hit by increases in rates, electricity and water - voicing their problems with the ANC nomination lists because they wanted leaders who would address their concerns about their living conditions.
UKZN researcher Glen Robbins said the direct costs from protest action could be far less than the problems in society that protesters were aiming to highlight. He cautioned against blaming protesters without considering the bigger picture.
“However, violent protests in a democracy are deeply disturbing as so many people are directly or indirectly harmed. They signal the need for some serious introspection about the nature of contemporary South Africa.
“One should also note that people living in communities where there is persistent protest also see their neighbourhoods damaged, people miss out on much-needed work income and often there is damage to businesses.”
The Mercury