ANC faces its moment of truth: Could Zuma cost them the election?

Posted: October 8th, 2008 | By Ray Hartley | Posted in General
  • 10 Comments
  

SOUTH African politics has never experienced as deep a moment of change as that which took place yesterday when Mosiuoa Lekota announced an effective break with the ruling ANC.
There have been breakaways from the ANC before, but never one led by such senior figures. And never before has the ANC been as riven with division as it is today.
Lekota is not wet behind the ears. He once led the United Democratic Front – the ANC’s internal wing – very effectively.
He criss-crossed South Africa, organising structures and earning a great deal of respect with the UDF’s community and student organisations.
He has a very strong bond with “internal” ANC leaders and may find fertile ground in many of the communities which rose up against apartheid in the 1980s.
In Jacob Zuma’s ANC, he will face a formidable enemy, but one which is also a little disorganised.
Under Zuma, the ANC has veered dangerously towards becoming a personality cult and it has cut loose the dogs of populism to belittle and attack Zuma’s enemies.
Julius Malema, the ANC Youth League’s motor-mouthed populist has single-handedly painted Zuma’s ANC as a home for nutters.
This has not gone down with many of the party’s older members and funders who see him as disrespectful.
The ANC now faces it’s moment of truth: Does it go ahead with its plan to install Zuma as president and permanently alienate its many disgruntled members?
Or does it play the smart political card and stick with the more broadly accepted Kgalema Motlanthe who has taken up the reins at the Union Buildings?
The answer, for now, appears to be that it will stick with Zuma. This will mean that the 2009 election will be hotly contested.
Lekota would be unlikely to win the contest, but he could take away majorities in several provinces and perhaps even steal the ANC’s heartland in the Eastern Cape. Not a bad thing for democracy.

Listen to what Lekota said:

Related posts:

  1. Zuma’s power is rapidly slipping from his hands
  2. 2000 ANC members at Lekota’s Cape Town meeting
  3. Lekota’s new party – What will it stand for?
  4. Makhanya’s arrest a bleak and ominous moment for our country
  5. ANC losing Eastern Cape heartland to Lekota

 

Comments

 

Larry

October 8, 2008 at 10:11 pm

Duh. The penny dropped.

If the ANC keeps on track with Zuma as presidential nomination, then they will stand a real chance of being the next official opposition, nevermind losing huge support which will happen either way.

You make one recurring mistake though Ray. Lekota will not necesarily lead the new party. You should not be making this assumption in your analysis. It is no longer about personalities opposed to a Zuma presidency. It is about the suitability of Zuma and him being a de-facto agent provocateur for the SACP and COSATU.

The Zuma ANC has reached a point of stubborn denialism, and will continue on its chosen path in the fashion of Mugabe, Castro and Lil Kim of Korea.
In this country, he will be stopped.

 

Pumlani

October 9, 2008 at 10:05 am

I as a student and the future of this country believe it’s about time A.N.C knows That South Africa is a democratic country and if they neglect what it stood for, people like Tata Lekota should do whatever is neccesary to prevent people who can lead S.A to situation like in Zimmbebwe.

 

CASTRO

October 9, 2008 at 10:34 am

I fully support the formation of this new organisation, we cannot tolerate the behaviour of rotten and unrespectful youth that have been given powers by their leaders to disrespect and do what ever thing they like. the ANC is just a 450 000 membership as oppose to the majority of 48 000 000 population . we cannot act as if we dont hink and see, anc will definately loose its support if its still have ZUMA and Malema and VAVI WHO JUS SPEAK LIKE DOGS WITHOUT TAILS. where do we go by haveing them, we fought for this freedom

 

Lukholo

October 9, 2008 at 12:27 pm

It is about time that the Zuma-ANC should be taught a lesson that when a leader forgets to stand for and buy the people, the people will alienate themselves from the leader. I support the splinter party 200% should it be formed. The Zuma-ANC will be shocked after the 2009 election, there are a couple of suprises in store for them in a couple of weeks to come.

 

SteboFS

October 9, 2008 at 4:07 pm

As a concerned SA youth, i don’t believe in the new “Zuma” ANC. I personally will take evrything to make the new party work. Ntate Zuma & his alliance has lost the plot, it’s no longer abouth the nation but their pompous egos. As for Julius Malema, Oliver Tambo is turning in his grave. Point of concern; WHY IS MANDELA QUITE????

 

MALEBOGO

October 9, 2008 at 5:29 pm

steboFS u right. where is nelson mandela?

 

Nick

October 9, 2008 at 11:42 pm

Well said. A one party state such as we have here (essentially) is hardly a democracy. Hopefully this split is the beginning of something resembling the Republicans vs the Democrats – something I think you also mentioned previously.

 

Democrat

October 10, 2008 at 10:41 am

As Cde Terror will be meeting Mathews Phosa on Monday, I personally think this meeting is not necessary, he must demand the following:
1.Re-instatement of Thabo Mbeki as president of the Republic.
2.Public apologyfor the insults by Julius Malema n him.
3. Re-instatement of especially premier E.Rassol.
4. No more requirement for a political solution any criminal or civil case.
5.People who are implicated in criminal activities viz.Ms Credit Card be removed from positions of power.
6.Zuma should stop avoiding standing trial, or if he is still not cleard by date of elections, he should not be a candidate for the ANC which respects the rule of law.
If these demands are met,and I doubt they will be,then we will be on our way back to reclaiming the ANC as we know it.

Viva New Party Viva.

 

gman

October 28, 2008 at 8:27 am

The ANC has become so arrogant and this has rubbed onto ANCYL, who belive they speak on behalf of all SA Youth. I’m for the New Party and have already started campaigning for them. The ANC must be taught a serious lesson by being relegated to being an official opposition in GP, WC, EC and possibly LP and FS.

 

Tiny

November 2, 2008 at 6:54 pm

I too am a student of this beloved country.I do not support the NEW PARTY(BLACK DA)
Because i dont understand what their grievances are.They have been with their ANC and were leading but failed to build it up and they are now criticising the same ANC.Clearly this has a lot to do with personalities and the ANC can not satsfy everyone that is y they have NEC to make decisions.Why are u people still making noise about Julius Malema.He speaks his mind,And is not afriad to stand up for what he believes in.Wat is wrong with that?How u interprete is your problem not his.He is exercing his democratic right just like everyone.Ironically enuf you calling Julius and JZ names but you claiming you condemning his bad behaviour while you doing the very same thing you want him no to do…..Wat is that.People must stop being emotional and think with their heads.

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