NDZ wins the bigger battle
OF POPULIST POLICIES IMPLEMENTATION
Nkosasana Dlamini-Zuma lost the presidential battle to Cyril Ramaphosa but she won the policy battle, given the ANC’s adoption of expropriation of land without compensation, nationalisation of the Reserve Bank and free higher education.
These populist policies were Dlamini-Zuma’s rallying calls during her presidential campaign. Arguably, implementing these policies will test Ramaphosa’s leadership skills as he attempts to balance market expectations of pro-business and investor policies with the party’s increasingly populist and leftist leanings.
So far, Ramaphosa has followed the script, throwing his weight behind the radical proposals. But one line from his maiden speech as ANC president was instructive: “Expropriation of land will be implemented with due care”. Loosely translated, if it does happen it will be in sync with the Constitution. But there’s a problem. The newly-appointed 80-member ANC NEC – the highest decision-making body of the party – includes Dlamini-Zuma and allies. They include Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, Police Minister Fikile Mbalula, Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, ANC Youth League President Collen Maine and others.
If the balance of power tips in her favour, she will have the clout to push through her policies. After all, President Jacob Zuma has shown us that having your allies in the NEC can help one survive many scandals.
Dlamini-Zuma, who has an extensive pedigree in government as a former minister of health, foreign affairs and home affairs, is part of the radical economic transformation (RET) and anti white monopoly capital crowd.
They believe SA’s ownership of the economy is still in white hands and lawmakers need to go for broke to shift this if they are to reduce inequality and unemployment. What the RET crowd conveniently fails to mention is that these challenges have flourished under the ANC’s watch for 23 years.
Policy proposals for land expropriation without compensation, nationalisation of the Reserve Bank and free higher education were rushed. No cost analysis or a solid funding plan was done. The burden to the state might be enormous.