Mogomotsi Mogodiri
Pretoria - The choice of leadership will make or break the ANC leading up to and beyond its forthcoming national conference. The past few days have seen events that have profoundly impacted our country’s political landscape.
It was unprecedented that three former presidents – Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma and Kgalema Motlanthe – openly expressed their displeasure, on the same day, but at different events, about the state of the ANC, its leadership and that of our country, and the direction that our country is taking.
The public comments also covered the rising unemployment numbers, energy insecurity as rolling blackouts persist, ever-increasing cost of living and the cloud over the head of President Cyril Ramaphosa after the reported theft at his Phala Phala farm.
The fact that the story has ignited a national debate shows that our country has not been talking about issues that concern them, and the willingness and vociferousness with which this conversation is held bears testimony to that hunger for a serious national debate.
Motlanthe, raised serious concerns about the direction our country is taking. He said that the country was at a precipice doubting its future. “And from here, on the edge of the Drakensberg mountains, we may observe how far the cliff edge falls for all,” Motlanthe warned.
Mbeki asked about the readiness of the ANC to decisively deal with the Phala Phala farm debacle. “Do we say to the president he must step aside or do we say let it continue through the parliamentary process? ” he asked. Mbeki went on to lambaste the direction and leadership of the much-punted renewal programme of the ANC by describing those at its helm as criminals.
Zuma accused Ramaphosa of being corrupt and guilty of treason.
The sum total effect of these utterances is the nation engaging, after a very long time, in meaningful discussion about our country and its future.
Maybe the utterances and sharing of the three former presidents’ views openly mark a watershed moment for both the ANC and the country. Our country needs new and fresh ideas, approaches, and boldness, and not obfuscation, dithering and delinquency.
The averments by the three former presidents have raised an important question of leadership. How South Africans and ANC members respond to the question will determine if we will be able to reimagine our future.
This conversation is even more relevant, given that the ANC is preparing to hold its national conference. The ANC has distinguished itself as a liberation movement and a political party by adopting policies and resolutions that aimed at redressing the colonial wrongs that turned natives into sojourners on their own land.
This situation was not different during the national conference held in 2017. Coupled with these transformative resolutions was the election of the leadership collective to implement them while rebuilding and uniting the ANC.
Five years have passed, and the term is coming to an end. For a myriad reasons, the mid-term review in the form of the National General Council (NGC) was not held, denying ANC members the opportunity to do an honest introspection.
That has not assisted preparations for the upcoming national conference as general branch meetings are devoid of proper discourse and policy deliberations.
The current ANC electoral scheduling, where we elect people at the outset of the conference and then adopt policies and resolutions later, is also not assisting in focusing discussions as part of the build-up to the national conference.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) recently concluded its national congress, and through a comprehensive report, the Central Committee gives an account of the execution of their five-year mandate.
Preceding the congress are intense discussions on policies. CPC members also undertake a thorough assessment of the leadership and then put forward the best among the good. ANC members can take cues from these best practices.
Pretoria News