Radical split in ANC good for future of country, says Achmat

A RADICAL split within the ANC resulting in the governing party reducing its majority to less than 47% could be the best thing to happen to the country when it goes to elections in 2019‚ outspoken activist Zackie Achmat said.

“What I’d hope for is a splitting of the ANC‚ that might still have some decent people [and get them to work with] good people from other small parties‚ and some coalition taking shape‚” Achmat said on Wednesday.

He outlined his preconditions for an ethical‚ clean and accountable government in the first five years after the Jacob Zuma presidency.

“But the ANC has to drop to below 47%. The reason for that would be to enable the smaller parties to go to the [ANC’s] side‚ and influence its direction.”

Achmat said the ANC was currently so entrenched it was difficult and dangerous to challenge it‚ but its prolonged stay in power compromised good governance and good citizenry in the country.

But‚ he warned‚ by singling out Zuma as the embodiment of state capture and corruption, critics missed the point.

He said while Zuma was the face of corruption, there were syndicates at all strategic points in government and state-owned enterprises.

“There are criminal syndicates operating within the railway system‚” he said. Under the stewardship of Lucky Montana, Prasa had derailed funds into the pockets of carefully targeted overseas corporations and local individuals.

Achmat also said he was privy to information that showed how, during Montana’s tenure, Prasa operated a scheme which saw copper cables‚ originally meant to be used in upgrading facilities in the railway system‚ find their way overseas, where they were sold to syndicates.

He said profligacy could be found in almost all government departments and state-owned enterprises.

However, it was thanks to our constitution‚ the judiciary and a robust media that it was still possible to expose and comment on corruption and state capture.