Municipal elections – focus on the ANC

The African National Party (ANC) are fervently campaigning to obtain as many votes as possible in the upcoming elections move into the final week. The ANC are in panic mode and have come to realize that the last 22 years of governing are finally showing signs of collapse. The last week of campaigning saw President Jacob Zuma criticize, demean and slander opposition parties. The ANC deems itself a force of national liberation but does not acknowledge the other political parties or the thousands of ordinary people who fought for freedom. 

The commitment of members is at an all-time low, and the ANC party has experienced a tremendous number of defectors. The dominant ruling party who gained more than two-thirds majority of votes in previous elections suffered a loss of three percent in the 2014 national election and a loss in the last municipal election held in 2011. The indication of another loss in this upcoming election is evident, based on the decline of good governance.

Corruption is the highest reason for the faithful members defecting to opposition parties or setting up their own political party. Many people who left the ANC support the claim that more could have been done for the citizens of South Africa. The inequality is a serious problem and the failure of providing essential services raised a concern. Many loyal members who were part of the ANC’s struggle for freedom are renouncing their support amidst the embarrassing scandals surrounding President Jacob Zuma. There are 783 charges of corruption against Zuma that may see the president have “his day in court.”

The ANC owe its victory to the tripartite alliance with the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). Without the support of both the SACP and COSATU, the ANC would not have succumbed triumphantly. High-ranking members of both SACP and COSATU hold senior positions within the ANC and have an influence on party policy and dialogue.

A significant disadvantage for the ANC was the structure by Zuma of a much larger administration than his predecessors, Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe. When Zuma took office, he was obliged to recompense the comrades who rescued him from prison. Thereby Zuma created rewarding positions in his cabinet, administration and state-controlled companies. This resulted in the Zuma management becoming too bulky.

The ANC rule is now severely being tested, and this upcoming election will determine how the mighty ANC is losing its powerful grip on the country.

Laura Oneale - published on  South Africa Today – South Africa News