The debate on the future of the African National Congress (ANC) continues. North-West University lecturer in political science and international relations, Naledi Modise, believes it is time to imagine South Africa without the ANC.
Naledi has weighed in on questions by leading political analyst Lukhona Mguni about whether the ANC is still fit for purpose.
“I suggest that the ANC can no longer be trusted to be a leader of society as it had been during the liberation struggle, and it is time to imagine a South Africa without it,” says Naledi.
She was reflecting on the “shambolic” ANC North West provincial elective conference that was held over the weekend in Rustenburg. Having been postponed at least three times due to challenges from fellow ANC members, the conference only managed to elect the top five positions and saw Premier Bushy Maape beaten for the party’s provincial leadership position.
The ANC has indicated that the rest of the elective process would be held within the next two weeks. In addition, party heavyweight and ally of former President Jacob Zuma, Supra Mahumapelo, is reported to have indicated his intention to challenge the continuation of the conference in court.
Elective conferences are internal ANC processes to elect the organisation’s leaders. These leaders are initially elected from their branches and go on to be the candidates for the party list compiled during elections. These lists are hierarchical.
“Despite the outcomes of the conference, one thing that is clear is that the ANC is not concerned with the challenges facing South Africans but rather with securing the futures of a few individuals,” says Naledi.
The academic has also decried the fact that “after multiple delays, there were concerns about the credentials of delegates, a court case and a judgment barring the interim Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) from voting and, as it stands, there is an impending court case between the ANC in the NW Province and former Premier Supra Mahumapelo.”
Although elective conferences are “theoretically” seen as avenues to deepen democracy, Naledi says this is not the case.
“The ANC adheres to a centralised style of leadership in which the National Executive Committee (NEC) dominates decision-making to the exclusion of the membership and lower party structures, and there is still an adherence to Leninist principles such as ‘democratic centralism’ and the need for ‘absolute party discipline on the part of party members’ (Lotshoalo, 2009).”
In this regard, within the organisation, there is little room for political contestation and debate, she says.
Naledi believes the lack of channels for internal contestation has created fertile ground for factionalism. This factionalism then drives the conduct of ANC cadres during elective conferences.
The impact on citizens is serious. Naledi recently pointed out that factionalism within ANC North West is hampering much-needed service delivery in the province, particularly at local government level.
