ANC right on leadership
THE ANC’S newly released raft of policy discussion documents have correctly generated interest across the public spectrum. As a governing party in the country and in eight of the nine provinces, it is not difficult to see why.
The discussion documents are frank in their assessment of the state of the party and of the reasons it finds itself in decline. We believe that many of the problems the party faces can be attributed to the quality of leadership, whether perceived or real, at the various levels of society. It is trite to say that any organisation is as strong or as visionary as its leadership. A leadership that does not enjoy public confidence can undermine a party with the best ideals.
That is why we believe that the discussion on the proposed electoral commission that will vet people nominated for positions before the elections, to rid the electoral system of gatekeeping and manipulation, is a positive step for the party and the areas of society it leads.
Until now, the party’s leadership had been reduced to a popularity contest. It has been enough that one is popular with the party’s branches and other structures to get a candidate into office.
While grass-root democracy is always the ideal, this system of electing leaders has had the unintended consequences of bringing in popular and well-meaning, but ultimately limited leaders unable to come to grips with the demands of managing a complex 21st century state.
Apart from the many complex problems South Africa faces, it also has an ethical and moral leadership deficit.
Far too many of the elected and deployed public officials have found themselves in ethically compromised positions. The ANC makes a roundabout admission of this point when it states in the same documents that there is a growing social distance between party leaders and the rank and file.
It is therefore imperative that regardless of which candidate the delegates at the December conference prefer, they should realise that the future of their organisation and, to a large extent, of the country, depends on them appreciating that the quality of leadership is far more important than the name or the sex of those who are entrusted with leading South Africa’s most influential organisation.