ANC manifesto: South Africa first

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
(Robert Frost)

The ANC’s election manifesto launched in East London on Saturday prioritises: creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods; education; health; rural development, food security and land reform; the fight against crime and corruption.

While the document confirms that the party will seek to further develop South Africa’s ties and cooperation with the people of this continent and internationally, the main thrust of it is to ensure the upliftment of the people back home; less of an African Renaissance and more of a South African one.

Topping the agenda is JOB CREATION, which rightfully is considered to be the cornerstone in the fight against poverty. Whether the state-led industrial policy is the key to the transformation of the economy is best dealt with by economists save to state that the retention, in the main, of macro-economic policies that have served us well so far, is to be welcomed. In addition, the promise to end “jobs for pals” and deal with corruption will go a long way towards seeing that the benefits from whatever growth is achieved, finds its way to our poorer communities. Vitally the conflation of party and state must be addressed to ensure that people owe their jobs and advancement to productivity and excellence rather than party connections. This will assist in achieving this goal in too many ways to cover here.

I strongly endorse continued affirmative action and BEE but there is a need to look at technical posts where specific skills are necessary and an immediate end to a select few getting the cream of the BEE pie. The whole purpose of these initiatives is to benefit a broad base of previously disadvantaged South Africans; not to make a handful wealthy beyond their wildest dreams.

The attention paid to FOOD SECURITY and the measures to be introduced (see manifesto above — click on link) is to be welcomed. One of the major concerns of our people at this time of global recession is that they will be unable to feed themselves and their families. In this regard and in light of the corruption surrounding the Eastern Cape feeding scheme, the ineptitude of the department dealing with social grants and our misadventure in Zimbabwe, getting our existing house in order is just as important as the introduction of further measures. In light thereof the decision to tighten up on the granting of government tenders may well afford dramatic improvement on delivery while reducing overseas trips, cars and houses for previously over-blessed cadres.

In the area of RURAL AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM the decision to reform the same is long overdue. Reform and redistribution must of necessity be speeded up with careful attention being paid to the aberration in Zimbabwe. Allow all stakeholders to be part of the process, target fairness and effectiveness wherever possible and under no circumstances allow this exercise to become bogged down by commissions and litigation. One of the major grievances of the masses is that after nearly 15 years of a multiracial democracy they are nowhere near a fair distribution of land. That needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

One of the areas that Mugabe did target was EDUCATION, which produced a bright crop of Zimbabweans that he refused to allow to develop to their full potential. More fool him. In our case the methods being employed need to be underpinned by a country whose culture, from president to pupil, sees education as the priority if South Africa is to realise its full potential. As I have stated previously, the wastage in terms of Zimbabwe, corruption and the like reduces the capacity of this country to deliver this vital product.

HEALTHCARE and the introduction of a system of National Health Insurance for all are, as far as I am concerned, to be welcomed. I await the response of guys like Adrian Gore — who have this country’s best interests at heart — to see what their take on this is. While the concept is long overdue, it is the implementation and feasibility thereof that I would like to hear about. What remains, however, is that the party planners deserve full marks for bringing this long overdue item onto the agenda.

CRIME AND CORRUPTION with the introduction of a new criminal justice system is to be welcomed but subject to certain conditions. First and foremost the government and the party, other than those that are required by their job descriptions to be involved in this quarter, must withdraw from it completely. Police and prosecutors must be given full independence and substantial financial backing to get on with their work without interference. Politicians must stop undermining the police and prosecutors and refrain from criticising judges. As with education, we need to develop a new culture here — respecting the independence and integrity of these institutions.

BUILDING COHESIVE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES is an area where the ANC has achieved much, but has fallen short of what it could have realised but for things like corruption, Zimbabwe and the ineptitude of the department of social grants. We are speaking here in terms of tens of billions, which could have gone into the housing, schooling and social security systems. Accordingly, wastage and preventing theft of resources must play an integral part of this and all of the programmes that the party has earmarked as a priority.

A BETTER AFRICA AND A BETTER WORLD will be achieved by doing the right thing by Africa and the planet. Up to now the foreign policy of South Africa has resulted in it being termed inter alia “a rogue state”. Zimbabwe in particular, in the interests of both South Africa and Zimbabweans, has to be our priority this year. It is costing the region and the country an enormous amount financially, morally and socially. (er … Bob has to go).

Overall the ANC’s manifesto demonstrates that the party planners have been listening to the people of South Africa and are focusing on those priority areas where much needed work still has to be done. It is, I believe, well within the party’s reach to achieve over the next five years subject to it eliminating or at least reducing wastage, cronyism, corruption and a misguided foreign policy in respect of Zimbabwe.

The manifesto seeks primarily to address issues relating to South Africa first and thereafter matters beyond our borders and marks the beginning of a new and more practical approach to the problems confronting this country.

Let’s see what the other parties come up with.

ANC election manifesto cartoon