Much as the majority of those who bother to vote will vote for the ANC, there is an increasing number of members, supporters and sympathisers who are increasingly “gatvol” or fed up with how it does things.
In fact, some people have threatened or chosen to refrain from participating in the forthcoming local elections.
But this was to be expected because with the maturation of democracy, unfortunately, we see a decrease in the number of citizens who choose to vote.
Some citizens have chosen to withhold their power to decide who governs them and who does not.
Of course, you do not need to be a rocket scientist to know this but those with eyes to see will tell you that more and more people are sulking in silence because they do not want to say it loud and clear.
Oh, no, their angry voices are now rising in crescendo when you listen to them talk about billing chaos, toll gates, unaccountability of some leaders and, above all, the alleged disregard of people’s choices for leadership in election lists.
Not so long ago I got a call from a woman in KwaZulu-Natal who desired to sensitise me to the unhappiness of the people about the selection process of councillors and how this had ignited threats to “boycott” the elections.
I mean, I was not surprised because this talk is out there for anyone with ears, if you like.
It is only now that the media is cottoning on to the deep rumbles of discontent that has seen scores of branches descend on Luthuli House to express and protest over the way councillors lists are put together.
There seems to be a big problem with the nomination process of future councillors, especially in the ANC.
It would seem that, in many instances, the people want to choose their own leaders but they are not allowed to do so by those who think they know better because they belong to factions within the party.
As a result of this top-down approach of appointing “leaders”, people are opting to not only stay away from elections but are taking up the challenge to force the party to intervene.
Things have reached a stage where people on the ground are sick and tired and will not permit self-appointed “committees” to decide who gets on to the nomination list.
We are entering a phase where the citizens of this country, especially ANC members themselves, threaten to impose sanctions on political participation because they have realised that, in many instances, some political gangs are hijacking democratic processes for self-interest and marginalising popular leaders.
There is a growing perception that taking time and spending energy to engage in meaningful democracy to choose your own leaders is something that is proving to be too difficult, false or even a “waste of time”.
Some people — even at branch level — are getting disillusioned with branch meetings where the views and feelings of the people are not taken into consideration by self-appointed leaders who think they know better than everyone else.
This has become too painful for an increasing number of people who have been wounded by the prevalent jackboot style of leadership.
The KwaZulu-Natal woman who phoned me was seriously considering retiring from the politics her family has dedicated its life.
She insisted that her family history was a testament to the noble struggle to make it possible for citizens of a free and democratic society to choose their own leaders.
This is proving to be impossible as some bosses in branches and wards do not want to put the idea of the leaders of the people chosen by the people for the people into practical reality.
She has decided to roam around, politically, until she can decide what she wants to do with her right to choose the leaders of her choice but has pledged she will not vote for the DA or any small-time opposition party.
When democracy becomes a gang, when leaders are “elected” according to some factions, then it begins to crumble from within.
This tendency shows that some ANC branches are moving towards Stalinist tendencies that have no place in a free society.
This may harm the ANC’s integrity.
There are a lot of patriots who love the ANC and wish to continue their unwavering support.
These patriots always want to help choose the best leaders to advance local, provincial and national interests and agendas that will make a qualitative difference in people’s lives.
The best leaders are characters who not only know the people in the community but are intuitively connected to their aspirations and hopes.
These leaders desire nothing for themselves but to serve the people in the best way possible.
The true tradition of the ANC is that to be a great leader, not only must you be loved and elected by the people but you must be willing to do as they tell you to do and not impose on them what you think is best for them.
The patriotic people of this country, especially in the ANC, are not fools.
In fact, they know what they want: leaders with integrity who can deliver schools, clinics, roads, jobs, security and peace.
But, most importantly, they know the men and women they can trust to deliver it to them.
Of course, our democracy is young but it is maturing.
In 1994, after the fall of apartheid, the people did not have to think too hard about who their leaders were as these were men and women who had made the necessary sacrifices.
They were greatly loved and appreciated by the people.
But after 17 years the situation has dramatically changed and the people have every right to apply their minds when identifying and choosing the leaders they want to represent them in democratic institutions.
The ANC has always allowed the people to choose their own leaders. If it does not, it will begin to rot from within its own branches.
And this cannot be allowed.
It hurts to see less and less people choose to participate in democracy simply because some self-appointed leaders think they know best what is good for the people.
If this democracy is to continue working, the people must not only choose their own leaders but actively engage in the process of appointments.
Let the people participate in democracy by giving them the unconditional right to decide who will lead them and who will not. Otherwise, there will be no democracy.
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