THE ANC may or may not be aware of it, but the country is reeling at the scenes of disrespectful populism that are being broadcast from Polokwane.
There is shock among ordinary people at the sight of chanting ANC members shouting down President Thabo Mbeki and his cabinet ministers in what appears to have become a vindictive assault on his person and his leadership.
Mbeki’s presidency has had its flaws and there have been some grounds for criticisms of some of his policy failings.
His decision to seek another term in office instead of seeking and grooming a successor early on in his presidency has backfired dramatically and the ANC has signalled it wants change.
But none of this justifies the boorish behaviour of Jacob Zuma’s supporters who have sent an alarming signal about the kind of political culture that will accompany a Zuma presidency, should this materialise, in the coming days.
What appears to be underway is more than a battle for leadership positions. It is the seizure of the party by a faction that wishes to take full control and throw out the establishment in its totality.
This is an alarming development which has major implications for the future of this country.
Zuma has been at pains to stress that he is in favour of party unity and will not depart from the party’s existing policy framework.
But his backers appear to have other ideas.
Zuma, should he take office, will be beholden to the populist trade unionists who put him there.
They are likely to demand a discernable leftward shift in economic policy as repayment for their loyalty.
Zuma will have to withstand this pressure — and be prepared to pay the attached political price — if he is to establish himself as the real leader of the ANC.

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