OPINION: Time and space necessitates #OccupyLuthuliHouse

30 August 2016 - 19:21 By Gugu Ndima

There’s a fairy tale story with a philosophical lesson titled ‘The Emperor has no clothes on’. In summary it’s about an emperor who is a narcissist surrounding himself with ‘yes men’ who are too afraid to correct or advise him‚ as they fear his wrath and possibly tampering with patronage and rewards which come with agreeing with the emperor. Con artists well aware of this narcissist come to the kingdom and deceive the self-absorbed emperor‚ claiming that they can create clothes from invisible silk and further elevating the Emperor’s prestige. When the day finally comes for the public parade of these clothes‚ a young brave child not paralysed or tainted by fear of the emperor shouts “the emperor has no clothes on!” This leaves the Emperor humiliated and with absolutely no option but to abruptly leave his kingdom.The ANC is an illustration of this profound fairy-tale. The recent local elections outcome has seen many members come out and publicly state that the Emperor has dragged a whole organisation down with him. Yes men and women surrounding him have aided this downward trend in the organisation‚ finding solitude in factions to protect their political careers.As the Secretary General of the ANC affirmed‚ the entire collective is to blame as even silence‚ of those who failed to speak against transgressions‚ was an indictment to the movement that they were supposed to lead. The elections are the consequence of years of political and organisational bigotry. Elections were evidence that organisational centrality was compromised at the altar of factionalism.However there is something distinct and significant now: ordinary members are no longer afraid to speak and publicly declare their frustrations. Members are no longer intimidated by the “ill-discipline” threat normally waved at any sign of dissent. Leaders occupying Luthuli are no longer trusted to uphold the constitution of the organisation‚ as many organisational and constitutional transgressions have been sanctioned under their watch.The question then becomes how does an ordinary member who has lost faith in their branch‚ who no longer sees value in internal discipline and has explored all facets available‚ yet not a single process has yielded a positive outcome. As admitted by leaders in the ANC‚ factionalism has been institutionalised to a point that it has left branches paralysed post conferences but worse‚ it has undermined organisational principles and processes. The continued erosion of processes and factionalised branches has unfortunately contributed to ANC members taking to the public to vent their frustrations.But beyond venting and a plethora of analysis of everything that has gone wrong‚ people await action. Unfortunately given the current state of the organisation‚ Official Leadership has lost moral ground to prescribe action to be taken by members or society. The ANC as a leader of society must appreciate that it’s not only branch members in good standing that have vested interests in the well-being of the organisation but society overall. This then bestows leaders the responsibility to be receptive of all grievances that come at their doorstep in whatever form.Members which have organised themselves to occupy Luthuli House on the 5th of September are manifestation of these growing frustrations amongst members who feel side-lined by the current state of the organisation. Denying members of the ANC and of society to deposit their grievances further entrenches notions of intolerance and factions being more powerful than the ANC. The failure to curtail wrongs and undermine the organisation’s constitution has such unintended consequences. One thing that must be appreciated by members going to Luthuli House is that they still believe in the existence of the ANC as an organisation and respect that Luthuli House still represents the core of the ANC.Extraordinary times in the ANC unfortunately have yielded extraordinary reaction. As leadership entertains options of early conferences and consultative conferences it must embrace suggestions and even the modus operandi taken by other members who don’t have the luxury of calling press conferences or being failed by organisational processes.The privilege to debate a way forward for the ANC no longer resides with leaders now. The outcome of the elections has stripped them of any authority to decide on how the ANC must proceed. Members from all corners of South Africa and supporters are frustrated and patience for a miraculous solution is wearing thin. The ANC is figuratively stripped naked and bare‚ yet it must appreciate that there are still many that want to correct this wrong beyond membership and would do so at Luthuli House.* Gugu Ndima is an author and social commentator...

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