ANC blind loyalty is over; revive morality

THE ANC is the oldest liberation movement on the African continent, and while the majority of people here live in generational poverty, cadres in the movement enjoy the benefits of generational wealth through corruption, cadre deployment and factionalism in the liberation movement.

The ANC succession battle is heating up. There are two outstanding candidates to choose from: the first helped draft the constitution which most of us adhere to (excluding the president).

The second is one of the longest-serving government officials, a woman who might realise the dream of so many women.

This has been touted as a battle between a man and a woman, or a fight against the abolition of patriarchy in the Presidency.

But we need to examine the qualities these candidates have rather than what is visible to the naked eye.

We have to avoid loyalties in order to bring the organisation back from the grip of death. It is alleged that we have families choosing ministers in the administration. We have the competence as a nation to choose for ourselves.

The only thing that can revive the ANC is morality. If that reigns supreme within the ANC, it will regain its position as the voice of the masses.

As an organisation, you need to ask yourselves: Does the good always outweigh the bad?

If so, allow the bad to rot, but make sure the good within the movement, the good with progressive ideas, shines through, and the corrupt fall through the cracks.

That is the only way you will be allowed to lead our people – blind loyalty is a thing of the past.

If the ANC hopes to lead, it needs to take a hard introspective look at itself.

ELON MOGALE Pretoria