Struggle in the past destroys ANC today: iLIVE

17 August 2012 - 13:38 By David Lucas
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The splintering of a revolutionary giant like the ANC is sad. Every time there is an election the crack widens, from the time Thabo Mbeki took over from Nelson Mandela there was discontent amongst the leadership; which was not addressed - it widened when Thabo Mbeki was “recalled”.

The ANC today never reached satisfactory agreements when they have meetings, makgotla’s or conferences. These events always get bogged down to leadership issues either from Unions wanting more say or other political allies. The blame is not only on the internal rivalry or the corruption, this is deeper and the ANC must take off the tinted glasses of the revolutionary era and don the democratic era glasses.  Many within the ANC and its alliance affiliates that still have not transformed from the struggle mind-set of the past 17 years to the current democratic reality. They still address each other as Comrades and still sing the revolutionary freedom songs, which translates into thinking like a struggle activists. They still have the 'them and us' mentality. Many still are racist to the core! - although they would deny it of course. Those who hold these views and mentalities are the ones resisting democratic transform from an organisation to a political party.  

When the constitution was created there were inequalities, racist injustice, and other undemocratic practices the past regime was having across the board. For many especially the hard-core activists it was payback time, with a winner takes all outcome. But the negotiators were enlightened people who look into the future of the country and not at the political gain or victory it would bring to them.  Many human and worker rights were restored, which led to the ANC finding itself at the mercy of the Unions and other affiliated organs within its broad based ensemble, the youth league would have wanted a more than a handshake from the opposition they wanted them to be arrested, their assets taken by force and if need be deported! But it did not happen that is why many still say that Mr Mandela “sold out the nation” by having accepted that be a peaceful transition rather than a total takeover of the power from the opposition.

It’s easy to see who were part of the crafting of the constitution within the ANC, by the reconciliatory mind-set which was the basis for the new constitution.

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