At just more than a year before the next general elections, most will agree that the ANC has been an unmitigated disaster. Commentators write reams of copy on a daily basis about the party’s governance paralysis. Everything has broken down under its watch, so it would be trite to rehash the horror list here.
There is consensus, generally, that as we edge closer to 30 years of ANC misrule, this country and its people are overdue change.
But I have some bad news. The ANC is going nowhere. Not because South Africans aren’t sick and tired of its antics or the puerile behaviour of some of its leaders. It will hold on to power because it is up against a fragmented opposition where everyone wants to lead and no-one wants to follow. Let me remind you of the circus that ensues at every general election. There’s a mushrooming of questionable political parties who, having raised the R200,000 deposit the Independent Electoral Commission requires for national elections, or the R45,000 fee per province charged for participating at this level, worm their way onto the ballot.
Some are formed and registered ahead of the elections under a dubious issue-driven purpose, while others remain dormant for the five-year period in between, only to come alive on the eve.
Some 48 parties were on the national ballot in 2019. You won’t remember 80% of them.
They just choose a grievance to use for campaigning, but in reality these are just stokvels trying to convince enough of the electorate to give their leaders paid employment in parliament for five years.
The African Security Congress. Remember that one? Obviously not, you probably didn’t even notice it was number one on the ballot paper four years ago. Its leaders claim it was formed to lobby for the interests of private security guards, in particular for government to employ security guards. Really? A whole political party to campaign for a sector of labour, not workers’ issues in general? Hey, why don’t cleaners, mineworkers, teachers, nurses, bus drivers and so on also form their own parties? They have unions, that's why.
The African Covenant styled itself a conservative religious party advocating for the return of the death penalty and a ban on same-sex marriages. At least they have a gripe regardless of how misguided it is.
The Compatriots of South Africa said its mission was to champion the rights of coloured people, or as its manifesto proclaims, “The Forgotten People”. Race politics hardly resonates with the electorate, but Gayton McKenzie might argue otherwise.
The International Revelation Congress, a Limpopo-based conservative outfit also sought to throw the bible at same-sex marriage. Religious fundamentalism has kept the ACDP at a steady four seats for 29 years.
Another fly-by-night was the National People’s Ambassadors, describing itself as a “radical, left, anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist movement with an internationalist outlook”. Clearly the EFF has got the ultra-left market under lock and key; there’s no need for another ambassador in a red onesie.
They just choose a grievance to use for campaigning, but in reality these are just stokvels trying to convince enough of the electorate to give their leaders paid employment in parliament for five years.
The South African Maintenance and Estate Beneficiaries Association, or Sameba, told us their campaign was on two platforms: child maintenance and beneficiaries of estates. They should have formed an NGO and saved themselves R200k.
As we get closer to elections, expect similar outfits to pop out from all corners for their shot at a paying seat in parliament or a provincial legislature. Plus, if the electoral amendment bill, allowing for the introduction of independent candidates, passes constitutional muster in the courts, thousands of solo wannabes will also raise their hands.
We also have new parties fronted by public personalities who are hoping their popularity can translate into votes. Mmusi Maimane leads Build One SA (Bosa). Bongani Baloyi formed his own Xiluva Party after acrimoniously leaving ActionSA. Former Absa head of communications Songezo Zibi launched his Rise Mzanzi with much fanfare.
The problem with the last three is they are all fishing in the same pond as Herman Mashaba’s fairly successful ActionSA. They are after the black middle-class, a section of society most gatvol with the ANC and whose vote is up for grabs. Given their almost similar outlook on what is wrong with SA and how to fix it, the question is why couldn’t Messrs Maimane, Baloyi and Zibi have sat down, crafted a united vision and allocated each other varying responsibilities of importance in a single movement?
They wouldn’t. I doubt you could fit all three egos in one room. Remember, we all want to lead. No-one wants to follow. The craft of followership is sadly missing in this country. It is about choosing the brightest, most principled, ethical, honest and capable among us and rallying behind their leadership.
Don’t get me wrong. Everyone has a constitutionally enshrined right to form a political party and contest whichever elections they deem fit. However, this potpourri will only confuse potential voters next year, and that immediately plays into the hands of the ANC.
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