President Jacob Zuma’s statement on political conduct and social cohesion issued late Saturday is exactly what this country has been waiting for. It is a reaffirmation that the president, government and ruling party share the same goals as the vast majority of South Africans in building our fledgling constitutional democracy.
In clear terms it sets out their views on the ANCYL, freedom of the media, respect for the law, Zimbabwe, social cohesion and unity.
A commitment to values that all South Africans can subscribe to without abandoning their own principles and goals.
While there are many political parties, analysts and general folk who will say that these are merely words and that thus far we are yet to see any real action I would humbly disagree for the following reasons.
Firstly in stating that the conduct of the ANCYL president is unacceptable, Zuma is publically confirming that the time has come for the youth league leader to start behaving in accordance with acceptable standards of conduct. That in tandem with Zuma’s reaffirmation that the courts are the final arbiter of these matters is clear confirmation that in terms of both the party and the laws of South Africa, members of the party and the rest of the citizens face sanctions where they transgress. Members having the added burden of meeting the standards required by the party and setting an example to everyone.
Of course the laws and disciplinary measures have always been there but the endorsement by government and the ruling party in wanting to see that they are being observed will assist the authorities and those within the party to carry them out.
Will it happen overnight?
Of course not but by saying it loud and clear you are affording people like Gwede Mantashe a licence to start bringing discipline to the party and the authorities a mandate to assist the government and party in restoring order and cohesion to both the party and the country. In addition acts like that of Jackson Mthembu in pleading guilty to his charges rather than trying to use the network to circumvent them plays a huge role in bringing credibility back to government.
Helen Zille is right in claiming that we need to see action but we must not lose sight of this statement and the response of Mthembu. By showing Zuma that good governance and accountability is not only respected but admired we encourage more and more people to subscribe to it while turning this country away from becoming the next Zimbabwe.
Secondly — and for me just as important — it removes the them versus us mentality that has been building up for months now.
When President Zuma sets out the commitment to respect the law, freedom of the media and a non-racial, non-sexist, united and democratic South Africa then he is not the president of the ANC but rather the president of all South Africans.
Whether you are AWB, wanting a volkstaat, or SACP, wanting better economic policies, you can still subscribe to those values because you would want to be treated with respect by your fellow citizens and be protected where you aren’t.
By committing to those values, Zuma has empowered our police, for example, to arrest those who abuse farm workers and those who sing songs calling for the murder of farmers. It is now over to the police to ensure that the law is upheld without fear or favour and regardless of who breaks it. Because if the police know that they are only concerned with crime and have our support then they won’t need to do a degree in politics every time they want to arrest someone.
The opposition parties need to get behind the president on this one so that we can unite behind this very important goal — restoration of unity and order in South Africa.
Get on with other pressing issues like telling the government that they have lousy economic policies if you are Cosatu and the SACP, shocking everything if you are from the DA and other centrist parties or have messed up on Eskom — from all South Africans.
Those are matters for debate, what the president covered on Saturday should be endorsed by all in order that we all assist in turning those words into deeds for the benefit of us all.
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