The ANC's Tokyo Sexwale has used a pothole analogy to describe the state of the governing party, saying it was facing political “potholes” in government and in its renewal path.
The ANC veteran and former Gauteng premier spoke to TimesLIVE Premium on Tuesday as he hit the campaign trail to bolster the ANC's bid to remain in power, admitting that his party has many potholes to fix.
Despite the many dents in dilapidated public roads, the former minister said he was not merely referring to the ones seen and experienced by South Africans every day.
“The potholes I am referring to are not the infrastructural street potholes only, it's potholes in the head, potholes in the soul, ideological potholes.
“I am talking about potholes ... where policies are failing."
Sexwale said the party's route to self-correction will have to begin with an admission of guilt, before it starts reconstructing the country should it retain its majority.
“It's my party indeed that created these potholes, that's why we have to correct them, that's why we are here.
“The process of renewal and restructuring depends on how we treat the question of resolving these potholes. We have to accept the fact that these potholes have been happening in front of us. It's not about the fact that they are there, but that we have to do something to close them up.”
Of all the organisations since 1994, only the ANC has the experience of governing — with all the mistakes, with all the problems, which we accept. They can never trust any other organisation with national and provincial leadership
— Tokyo Sexwale
He said the ruling party's messaging was clear ahead of the polls, as it crosses the country asking the electorate to give it another five years at the helm.
“We say to people, vote ANC because of all the organisations since 1994, only the ANC has the experience of governing — with all the mistakes, with all the problems, which we accept. They can never trust any other organisation with national and provincial leadership.”
Sexwale went on to recount the ANC's victories, particularly those during his tenure as premier of Gauteng.
“A lot has been done. The Gautrain, houses, provision of education and so on. We are building on what we have already achieved.”
Sexwale said he was aware of the blunders the party has made, both in government and within its organisational ranks.
“We are aware that we have made mistakes, and we are aware that we have been infiltrated by all types of elements. Tsotsi elements, criminals, all sorts. The ANC is such a huge organisation, bonke bafuna ungena [they all want to enter]. Even amasela [thieves]. We are aware of that.
“We are dedicating ourselves to making sure we clean up this organisation. You can't renew the ANC without cleaning it up. The people who have come into the ANC, this minority of crooked people, are the ones giving us a bad name when they go into councils, the province and even the office of the president. We are not afraid to say that.”
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