By Penuel Maduna, ANC Branch Deputy Chairperson*
June 1, 2024
As the votes are being counted, it is clear that the African National Congress (ANC) has received a significant blow, securing only 40.25% of the national vote, 34.55% in Gauteng, and failing to secure a majority in the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. This is a stark reminder that the people of South Africa have rejected the ANC.
The reasons for this rejection are multifaceted. Firstly, the leadership of the ANC has become elitist, disconnected from the living conditions of the people.
Our leaders are often seen driving luxury cars, dressing in expensive clothing, and living in mansions, while our people suffer in poverty, unemployment, and inadequate access to basic services such as healthcare and education.
As noted in the ANC’s Strategy and Tactics document (paragraph 153):
“Yet in this period, many negative tendencies have crept into the conduct of ANC members and leaders.
Political incumbency has resulted in a situation in which public representatives of the motive forces are socially elevated from the mass of the people, thus creating ‘social distance’ between the leaders and their constituents.
Incumbency also means access to powerful instruments of state and massive resources.
This creates fertile ground for corruption and a vicious cycle of illicit mutual dependence between some private and public sector elites.”
The way the ANC conducts its internal elections is also a cause for concern.
Talent is often overlooked in favor of mediocrity, and leaders are elected based on patronage rather than capability.
This has resulted in a leadership that is not reflective of society’s needs.
Going to conferences, outcomes are usually pre-determined in favour of patronage.
Leaders are elected on the basis of who they align with and pledge their loyalty to, rather than capability.
We have seen this in the ANC itself and even in its leagues. The past year, we have seen congresses of the ANC Youth League and ANC Women’s League where the leadership of the ANC dictated who must lead, forcing their favourites down the throats of thousands of delegates representing their branches.
Those imposed leaders do not appeal to the society, hence we find ourselves with an ANC NEC that cannot unite and lead society, an ANC Youth League that cannot champion the interests of young people while rallying them towards the banner of the ANC, and an ANC Women’s League that cannot galvanize women behind the banner of the ANC.
As the Strategy and Tactics document also acknowledges:
“Gate-keeping, money politics and fraud characterise most ANC electoral processes.”
Furthermore, the conduct of frontline public servants has contributed to the erosion of trust in government.
Everyday, our people are treated with disdain and disrespect in government institutions, reflecting a lack of accountability and competence.
Our deployees in government have failed to effectively serve our communities, with collapsing medical facilities, unsafe schools, and inadequate road infrastructure.
Millions of Rands are taken back to treasury, or worse, misused, while our people continue to suffer.
Corruption continues to plague our organization, with leaders accused of corruption being treated differently based on their factional alignments.
To regain the trust of our people, we need to take decisive action against those who fail in their roles.
We need to rebuild the ANC and ensure that our leadership is accountable, competent, and reflective of society’s needs.
*Part 2 of this article will explore the solutions to these challenges.*
*The journey may be long; and the effort required much greater. But the struggle continues, and victory is certain.* – ANC Strategy and Tactics
*Penuel Maduna*
ANC Gilbert Msikinya – Branch Deputy Chairperson
Former ANCYL Regional Spokesperson
NB: Writing in his personal capacity
