ANC, ANCYL vs Cosatu on lifestyle audit

While the ANC and ANCYL were issuing a statement condemning “with contempt” the Star newspaper for its article entitled “Malema’s millions”, Cosatu were calling for a lifestyle audit of political leaders.

The trade union federation were subsequently joined by Sadtu, whose general secretary, Mugwena Maluleke, issued a statement after the union’s national executive council’s two-day meeting in Benoni which stated that the: “Sadtu NEC expressed concern at the growing evidence of a right-wing faction at work within the ranks of the liberation movement with the clear intent of destabilising the tripartite alliance. Our concerns include mounting evidence of corruption within our movement and the continuing feeding frenzy for tenders and concessions as the parasitic black bourgeoisie continues its strategy of buying political influence to build personal fortunes.”

Maluleke said that the union therefore endorsed Cosatu’s call for a lifestyle audit of political leaders, both in government and in the wider alliance.

The ANC on the other hand, supported by the ANCYL, called upon the Star to retract its “untrue and fallacious claims” and to publicly apologise to Malema.

The moral high ground here currently belongs to the Star, Cosatu, Sadtu and those who believe that a lifestyle audit is necessary for our political leaders. The reason therefore being that the primary feature that distinguishes our political parties from each other at present, is in their approach to the economy and the way in which they suggest that previously disadvantaged South Africans be assisted in reaching a level playing field.

For example when ANCYL president Julius Malema or certain members of the ANC call for nationalistion, BEE, affirmative action or other forms of economic upliftment based upon race, arising from a declared support of socialism or communism, then the public have every right to expect that these proponents are living a somewhat austere lifestyle.

Imagine then the horror of the SACP conference in Polokwane in finding out that the chief exponent of nationalisation is living like a mini Donald Trump and that the way in which tenders are being conducted often has nothing to do with upliftment and everything to do with cronyism.

The big mistake being made by the ANC and ANCYL is to declare themselves the enemy of capitalism while adhering strictly to its principles. If they were to hold themselves out as the champions of free enterprise and a market-controlled economy one could not find fault with them. They’d be living the dream and walking the talk.

Instead they talk socialism and live capitalism.

This is going to get people’s backs up.

In terms of their claims that the Star are way off the mark, why not then come clean and tell Joe Public how Malema is living the lifestyle that he does? Set out exactly what he does own in order that the SACP, Cosatu as well as members of the public can determine whether he is the appropriate person to be leading the debate on nationalistion.

As we noted in the debate concerning the privacy of politicians, when applied to President Jacob Zuma’s love child, one of the main factors that we look at when deciding on whether it is appropriate to intrude on them or not, is the prejudice that that person’s conduct could have on other members of the public.

In the case of senior members of the ANC, ANCYL and even Cope and the Democratic Alliance, their actions have a major impact on the lives of all South Africans. Accordingly, their conduct has to be kept under constant scrutiny.

In the case of Malema this has to be far more so because he is calling for massive economic changes to this country. In accordance therewith the public has every right to know whether this is based upon a desire to free the masses or become another Mugabe living it up at the expense of others. Cosatu and the SACP — as the main proponents of socialism and communism — have the right to know exactly why he is the party championing nationalism in light of his lifestyle.

Accordingly, if the ANC and ANCYL say that the media have no right to check up on the lifestyles of politicians — the Scorpions having been disbanded — whom are they suggesting should protect the people from corruption and policies designed to make the fat cats wealthier?

We are currently witnessing in Niger what happens in Africa when the public are denied the right to exercise their vote or other ordinary rights by those who cling to power.

In South Africa, by blurring the lines between party and state, appointing cadres to posts and trying to feather their nests without interference, the ANC members concerned are endangering the ruling party and government far more than anything the opposition parties could achieve.

Those examples all result in the fight against corruption and improved service delivery being retarded while the protests in communities like Balfour grow daily.

Whenever concerns are raised by the media it is as if there is some sort of “wit gevaar” trying to regain power. That would be risible if it wasn’t so sad.

The only danger posed by whites in South Africa is simply that they may decide to leave. That is worst-case scenario. Politically, they are a small minority who could never summon sufficient support to become the government.

The threat lies in something that should be of concern to us all — that the masses of our country, enraged by continued poverty while their leaders drink champagne at house-warming parties, decide that they have had enough.

Therefore, instead of fighting against these checks and balances, the ANC should welcome them as protection against the excesses of their comrades which could hasten that dreaded day.

South Africa is not Zimbabwe and our masses will not stand by and be treated in the way that Mugabe does with his people.

Remember that.

Julius Malema’s Millions – Wonkie CartOOn!