What’s the ANC unifying against?

New top six elected

WHEN the ANC was formed on January 8 1912, its main objective was to unite all South Africans, Africans in particular, against all forms of discrimination and national oppression.

This unity was against discrimination and national oppression.

The national leadership that was elected represented the various tribal groups that were hitherto divided.

Fast forward to last year, in the preamble to the ANC policy documents in the lead-up to the 54th national elective conference, the ANC calls on its members to “deepen unity during the year of Reginald Oliver Tambo”.

This theme of unity was made more popular by David Mabuza with his so-called “unity” votes that proved to be the kingmaker.

Unlike the founding fathers of the ANC, Mabuza did not say against what was the unity he was calling for.

During his election victory speech, the president of the ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa, stated that ANC delegates to the conference had voted for unity against the slates.

Again the question is: against what in the slates is this unity? Put differently, what is that divides the ANC?

In my view, the outcome of the 54th ANC national conference was the unity of the provinces, where Gauteng, Free State and Mpumalanga are represented by Paul Mashatile, Ace Magashule and Mabuza respectively. This narrative is complete when Gwede Mantashe and Ramaphosa are said to represent Eastern Cape and Limpopo respectively.

The biggest loser in this conference was KwaZulu-Natal, though it had the biggest delegation to the conference.

This unity of provinces logic is given credence when Mabuza was nominated by more than 300 branches in the Eastern Cape.

This when in fact he never addressed a single meeting in the Eastern Cape during the run-up to the ANC elective conference.

Did those ANC delegates when asked to nominate him ask the question: unity against what? What then is dividing the ANC?

Is it the capturing of the state by the Gupta family and their associates?

Is it the rampant corruption that pervades all state institutions?

Is it resistance to radical socioeconomic transformation inside the ANC? Is it the recalling of the current state president?

Against what precisely are ANC members called to deepen unity?

These are issues of principle around which to unite the ANC rather than the mechanical geographic representation in the top six.

If these are the real threats to the unity of the ANC, then provincial representation to the top six ought not to be a consideration.

Does it matter if all of the top six have come through the eye of the needle and are ethically beyond reproach?

Even if all the top six leaders are from the same province, as long as they are united around issues of principle.

It is time that members of the ANC, when asked to vote for unity, need to ask the question: unity against what?

Mzukisi Mpahlwa, Port Elizabeth