ANC Lite

With the resignation of president Thabo Mbeki, following intense pressure from elements within the ANC, ANCYL, Cosatu and the SACP, speculation has grown about the possibility of a party split.

Ministers and others loyal to the former president are believed to be weighing up their options pursuant to their misgivings about the current direction of the party and its failure to adhere to the core principles of the organsation.

A few observations.

The ANC under Mbeki achieved sustained economic growth but made a number of glaring errors, including but not limited to, Aida denialism, Zimbabwe and corruption. Moreover, there was a marked failure to hold people accountable for disastrous performance or blatant acts of criminal conduct while serving the government or party.

Hardly a case of sticking to the principles of the ANC.

The party under ANC president Jacob Zuma — who was after all deputy president under Mbeki — has threatened the country, the independent organs of state and the media. More significantly, for the purpose hereof, has been the willingness of some to place the interests of the ANC president above the party, which prides itself on acting as a collective, the government, the state and the people of this country.

Conduct more becoming a monarchy or dictatorship.

Accordingly, Mbeki’s removal, whether premature or not, has been handled with as much dignity and delicacy as possible under the circumstances.

The interim president Kgalema Motlanthe has reached out to both factions, the opposition and the country. He has been at pains to restore stability and rid the party of war talk, all the while assuring people of consistency in economic policies. At all times the stamp of the collective can be seen in everything he does.

That is where the ANC has to be right now and is — or should become what is — considered to be acting in the finest traditions of the party.

Accordingly those within the party, primarily those who served under Mbeki, who feel they must split at this point in time should be honest enough to admit that this arises from political opportunism and expedience rather than any desire to return to the principles of the ANC which many disregarded while they were in office.

In addition, lay the basis for creating a new party — it is inconceivable that the ANC and ANC2 could both subscribe to essentially the same principles ie, two parties who are in effect simply the two factions of the same party, who will then, if anything, intensify the aggression between themselves.

If such a split occurred what would you call the two parties?

ANC (ruling) and ANC Lite (got the name but no sugar).

Shame.