The vast scope of the politics of patronage has become an incontestable reality since Polokwane visited on us all the ills we never imagined for our young democracy. Scavengers from all corners have descended upon the carcass of the ANC, lured by the promises of a gluttonous feast.
When the once glorious ANC hoisted a man of seemingly dubious judgement to lead the country, some might have envisioned for themselves a panorama of plenty while the rest, by blindly supporting him into the presidency, were signing a promissory note to which they were to fall heir. A note that will guarantee them their prerogative to pursue all improprieties that can be closely associated with running the government. The elections are upon us and holders of this note are gathering in their numbers to redeem what they believe to be theirs.
Nobody could have been more accurate than Edmund Burke when he said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”. Men who once commanded great respect from all quarters of society, owing to the burden of responsibility imposed on them by duties they had to fulfil, have reduced themselves to being the sycophants of leaders we cannot be proud of. Leaders in whom we cannot with all sanity claim to see ourselves.
Leaders from business, sports and even traditional leaders have come out in their numbers to publicly endorse and pledge their support for the ANC. Nothing in the Constitution prohibits citizens from expressing their preference of leadership. However, it becomes problematic when those entrusted with leading an organisation, which by its stated mission should remain non-partisan, choose to abuse their position and declare that their organisation supports one political party over another.
It was a pathetic show of support when leaders of the Black Management Forum (BMF), South African Football Association (Safa), Business Unity South Africa and the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Nafcoc) sold their souls and declared that these organisations were endorsing the ANC. The question that we must all ask is whether being an ANC member has become a prerequisite to being affiliated to these organisations? By whose authority have the leaders of these organisations been mandated to pledge their support for the ANC and prejudiced a number of their affiliates and members who support other political parties.
Nafcoc, in one of its objectives, claims it is committed to leading the unification process between black and white business in South Africa and to represent the interests of all small, micro and medium-sized enterprises and BEE companies in policy formulation. Surely businesses run by non-ANC apologists and sympathisers will want their interests represented by an impartial organisation. Does Molefi Oliphant of Safa believe that registered football clubs and their supporters, including supporters of the national soccer team, support Jacob Zuma? Political expediency appears to have superseded the commitment to deliver on the respective mandates imposed on these people. The state of soccer in the country is beyond pathetic and the performance of the national team elicits no spirit of patriotism in the wake of the Fifa soccer world cup. Ours remains an unimaginable humiliation at this world event.
The BMF, which Jimmy Manyi leads, correctly distanced itself from the political convention hosted by what was to be Cope in November. The BMF released a statement confirming that it was a non-partisan organisation and that it would not be involved in the process of forming a political party. At the time the BMF was rightly conscious of the fact that its members came from different political persuasions. It is rather shocking that the same Manyi stood on the podium at the Sandton Convention Centre, at the ANC election manifesto event, and proudly proclaimed his organisation was fully behind the ANC.
This is the same man who launched a scathing attack on Cope for its stance on affirmative action and BEE, wrongly accusing its leadership of seeking to repeal these policies when in fact there was a call for their review. His silence was deafening when Kgalema Motlanthe suggested the government would consider phasing out affirmative action. Motlanthe said: “Perhaps if we take an approach in an objective and scientific way, we can then have a way of phasing it out rather than to say let’s do away with it. You may find that we do away with it prematurely and settle with a problem.”
The hypocrisy of the ANC and its parasitic alliance partners has been astounding in their response to those who choose to exercise their constitutional right to freedom of association and expression, particularly those who rebelled against the onslaught of intimidation and openly supported Cope or were even suspected of supporting the party.
Professor Barney Pityana has become a victim of intimidation by ANC apologists because he possessed the courage to support, in his personal capacity, the party of his choice and elected not to drag the institution he represents to endorse Cope. Pityana is Unisa’s vice-chancellor. ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa chairs the Unisa council and his silence, when members of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union and Young Communist League clamoured for Pityana’s head, is rather disturbing.
Former president Thabo Mbeki warned his fellow comrades on countless occasions against the scourge of careerism and opportunism that appeared to have arrested the soul of the once glorious ANC. Perhaps his removal from office was inspired by those called the “lynch mob of Polokwane” who sought to clear the path of patronage of all impediments. Folding our arms and granting the current ANC free rein will be a dereliction of duty. Proud citizens of this country should prevent the establishment of a lasting legacy of corruption, cronyism, careerism, moral decay and all other imaginable improprieties readily attached to the current ANC leadership.
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