ANCYL leadership contest: Shades of Polokwane?

Another page in the voting nasty annals of African politics is being written in the sacred halls of the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein — home of the brave and the land of the free – to pee in your soup. The ANC Youth League (ANCYL), established in April of 1944, is currently holding it’s national conference as a result of which hundreds of delegates and senior members of the party have descended upon the city.

One of the functions of the conference is to elect a successor to the dynamic outgoing president Fikile Mbalula who has now served two terms in office. As a result a number of candidates have emerged but only two with any realistic chance of winning the race.

First up there is the ANCYL’s provincial secretary, Julius Malema, who enjoys the full backing of Mbalula. Against him is the current treasurer Saki Mofokeng who enjoys the backing of at least five provinces.

Unfortunately, just as we witnessed unpleasantness between the Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki factions prior-to, during and post-Polokwane, a similar pattern is emerging here.

Supporters of the two camps have been conducting smear campaigns and creating divisions within the ranks. Indeed the animosity has become so marked that ANC president Zuma felt the need to intervene as part of his address to the conference.

Ironically, Mbalula himself is being lambasted for trying to appoint his successor. Delegates have reminded him that he was against President Thabo Mbeki for trying to do exactly the same thing at Polokwane.

What has to be of concern is the fact that two ANC conferences, which should unite the party, have instead occasioned deep rifts. Is this because the ANC believes that it is an unbeatable monochracy, merely turning up to achieve victory at national elections? Or is it simply over-zealousness among the candidates and their supporters?

Either way, it does neither the party nor the country’s image any good.

As certain critics have correctly observed, turning these party elections into personality competitions can be a dangerous path to travel. Once you start playing the man and not the ball then leadership may well fall into the hands of those who join the party as a means of pursuing agendas outside of the ideals of the party. The ANC becomes the vehicle for, rather than the centre of, policy making.

The issue should be candidate’s policies and standing — not pissing contests.

If one has regard to the ANCYL’s basic policy document of 1948, it holds: “1. Historical Basis of African Nationalism. More than 150-years ago, our forefathers were called upon to defend their fatherland against the foreign attacks of European settlers. In spite of bravery and unparalleled heroism, they were forced to surrender to white domination. Two main factors contributed to their defeat: firstly, the superior weapons of the white man, and secondly the fact that the Africans fought as isolated tribes, instead of pooling their resources and attacking as a united force.”

Perhaps the senior ANC and youth league members might have regard to this need to be a “united force” when considering the desirability of eliminating these destructive tendencies. They unfortunately impact on the country as well as the party. I’m sure the party does not need reminding of the political tension and uncertainty currently prevailing in South Africa. This is allied to the economic side-effects which this uncertainty is occasioning.

As the ruling party, it is in your own, as well as that of the country’s interest that your business be conducted in a consistent, dignified and professional manner.

Don’t order the soup!!!