The ANC party of South Africa, broken and freed
October 28, 2008South Africa like most countries of the continent has a story tarnished with apartheid and racial exploitation. Since the forced resignation of the ex-minister and leader of the ANC, Thabo Mbeki, the alliance party saw division take place among their ranks in an imposing manner. Furthermore, the Minister of Defense, Mosiuoa Lekota, left the party with many supporters and soon declared officially the creation of a new party.
Discouraged by the left-turn of the ANC, which includes Unions and the Communist Party of South Africa, the dissidents are preparing a meeting on November 2nd to establish the basis of the new party which should be inaugurated in December. Therefore, they are making more and more public meetings throughout the country in order to gain support within the population.
The environment wasn’t at its best while they were proceeding on October 25th to a militant meeting where 300 supporters of the ANC attempted to stop it. Police force had to get involved but nobody was arrested or hurt during the event. During the same meeting, Lekota declared that his supporters wouldn’t get intimidated by the loyalist threats of the party in power in South Africa. “We will not be intimidated”, he said in front of 2000 people in the Northern Cape Province. “I will not give up my principles.”. Another meeting in Limpopo province was cancelled due to the disruption of the Youth League of the ANC, that the police force didn’t manage to control, or so said the public tv station SAFM.
The dissidents have good hope of getting at least 20% of the poll during the 2009 election while specialists affirm it’s an objective of total unrealism, especially without the explicit support of Mbeki. Many are even waiting on the words of Nelson Mandela before taking their decision, him who was the president of the ANC and South Africa until 1999.
The ANC, ruling ever since the first multiracial elections in 1994, participated actively to the end of apartheid in 1991. Born in 1912, the alliance always fought for equality between sexes and races principles, removal of poverty, betterment of the healing system, access to healthcare for all without discrimination, etc…
During the last 14 years, the government sadly didn’t manage to better in a significant manner the situation within the ghettos and even throughout the country. Mbeki felicitated himself for the accomplishment of his government while the development of a row of 60 kilometres between the cities of Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria, will only end in a huge concentration of 8 millions citizens within the next few years which will join the two cities into one, without solving any problems. Furthermore, the M1 highway neighbouring the row is called the “line” by the residents: the separation between the overpopulated ghetto of Alexandra and the luxurious houses of Sandton, the richest neighbourhood of Johannesburg. The promises of Mbeki haven’t created the equality sought but opened the door to projects such as the mega-mall of Soweto of 196 850.39 square feet, the Maponya Mall, which opening was celebrated recently.
Adding to this, Mbeki was reproached repeatedly his decisions since 1999. He adopted a denial policy regarding HIV which has been destroying his country for decades. He even retarded purposively the approbation of Nevirapine, a well-known medication which reduces the virus transmission’s chances from mother-to-child of 50%. His inaction made his government responsible of genocide while (as per Achmat) since 1999, 1,5 millions people between 0-49 years old died from the HIV and 2 millions people were newly affected. Njongunkulu Ndungane, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, described the government policies of « serious crime against humanity, as bad as the apartheid. ».
The unemployment rate is still a major concern in the country. Within the population of colour, it goes up to 40% while it stands at only 4% within the white population.
The forced resignation of Mbeki was perceived as undemocratic while in fact, on September 23rd, a motion was presented to the congress, asking for the resignation of Mbeki which passed 299 to 10. The resignation of Mbeki was then followed by the resignations of 11 members of the congress along with the vice-president. At the same time, Mbeki was taking back again his legal offensive on Zuma.
Mbeki tried to get rid of his opponent, Jacob Zuma, by accusing him of corruption and frauds which the inquiry proved completely false. If Mbeki wanted Zuma out of sight, it’s indeed because he was a menace to his position. However, it is important to note that Mbeki hasn’t brought his support to the dissident group yet, even though they are claiming him as their main reason to leave the ANC.
While reading the various articles on the Internet, it’s easy to think that the new president of the ANC is against the creation of a new party while in fact, many are more than happy about the break up which will allow the majority party to push further projects that were held back by the right-wing dissidents of the party. The majority aspect of the ANC will however be hit, for the first time in South Africa’s history.
