Motlanthe can take the Terror out of the ANC

Over the last year I’ve been looking at the question of a political solution for Jacob Zuma as a possible means of bringing about stability and avoiding conflict within the ranks of the ANC and thereby the country as a whole. As events have unfolded it would appear that whenever the pressure on Zuma in terms of his criminal trial decreases so too does the violent rhetoric and aggression from his supporters.

One problem, as I suggested in an article looking at a compromise candidate, was that while a political solution might reduce tensions it would still leave the factions very much in place even after the elections, with mini-wars flaring up every time the smallest post was on offer.

thoughtleader.co.za/traps/2008/09/07/would-zuma-and-mbeki-factions-entertain-a-compromise-candidate/
The article concerned was written prior to the events surrounding the resignation of president Thabo Mbeki and the appointment of Kgalema Motlanthe by parliament as well as the departure of Lekota et al from the party.

While I did not name my suggestion for the compromise candidate at the time, the party put forward Motlanthe who placed highly on the lists of both factions at Polokwane. Someone who was acceptable to both factions albeit that the Mbeki supporters were still smarting from his premature removal as president.

The question which now has to be answered is whether any individual is bigger than the ANC?

As things stand the party is facing a mass migration of members and supporters to a new party or simply away from politics because the movement, which became a party, no longer represents the principles that many of their forefathers literally died for.

Whether the Zuma faction or the Mbeki faction occupies the moral high ground on this one is actually irrelevant. What is relevant is that a great divide has formed which threatens to tear the party in half and leave it a shadow of its former self. While this may be good for democracy in South Africa it is a nightmare for the party and needs to be dealt with head on.

If no individual is bigger than the ANC then the question that party leaders should be asking is who would we accept as a compromise candidate for this election that is acceptable to the majority of the members and the supporters? This rather than trying to placate those leaving with overtures from the ANC president. In that step alone the move towards starting to bridge the divide can begin.

Regardless of whose nose is put out of joint the time has come to decide whether the party is bigger than the man or the man is bigger than the party.

If regard is had to the pending split it is definitely the former.

The fact that the party is acting as if it is the latter is what is causing the implosion.