Change to ANC electoral system is urgently needed
THE ugly scenes and prolonged delays during the ANC conference in the Eastern Cape recently were another terrible advertising instalment of Brand ANC.
What took place, including the delay of the conference due to quibbling about credentials, couldn’t have come at a worse time for the organisation.
It is common cause that Brand ANC has not only lost its shine, but unfortunately has also become associated with shenanigans, including corruption, incompetence, factionalism and even senseless killings.
But what happened or brought the ANC to its lowest ebb, and what needs and can be done beyond lamenting, whining and whingeing?
How unfortunate that the “slogan” thath’mali kodwa uvote kahle (literally meaning, grab the money but vote correctly) has not only gained currency during the hotly contested eThekwini regional and the Eastern Cape provincial conferences, but seems to be becoming an accepted norm.
Even though the intersection of politics and money is as old as humankind itself, we cannot forget that the ANC 2017 national conference became a pinnacle of the demonstration of the ruthless and corrosive power of money when, reportedly, billions of rand were spent to influence the outcome of that gathering.
It has been widely reported, especially on social media platforms and even during the proceedings of the Zondo Commission, that loads of cash exchanged hands leading up to and during that conference. This misdemeanour was meant to influence inappropriately, corruptly and unlawfully the outcomes (policy positions) of conferences, and the composition of the leadership has corroded, if not completely eaten away, the soul of the ANC.
The sad reality is that those with deep pockets or “sponsors” who are hell-bent on either hijacking and/ or liquidating the ANC will do their damnedest utilising their money (at times ill-gotten) to achieve their nefarious agendas that delay or derail genuine decolonisation.
Various proposals have been made in this regard, one of them being an unavoidable need for the total overhaul of the ANC’s internal electoral systems and processes.
A serious, focused discussion that culminates in a constitutional amendment or electoral review regarding what is termed “one person, one vote” should ensue within and across ANC structures without further ado.
This concept refers to a provision that enjoins us that, during regional, provincial and national conferences, every ANC member in good standing casts her/his vote for and/or gets voted into any leadership position, irrespective of their geographical location when that conference takes place. Technological advancements with checks and balances will be enablers in this regard. This revolutionary move would enfranchise all ANC members while devaluing or stripping the delegate of any traction or usefulness for the ruthless and self-serving vultures who circle around them carrying loads of cash during conferences.
By abolishing provisions that only entitle delegates to vote in conferences and opening voting to every member in good standing, the composition of the leadership corps of the ANC will reflect the will of members (a sum total) rather than that of delegates who have hitherto proved to be susceptible to bribes and other criminal acts by unscrupulous characters.
Built into this proposal should be the establishment of an electoral college/structure, sufficiently empowered to have teeth to enforce the rules and deal decisively with “errant players”. The electoral structure will, among others, organise, oversee and manage those elections and reinvigorate our electoral systems and processes.
Unless and until genuine ANC members decisively tackle the elephant in the room (the corrosive influence of money to re-purpose the ANC), the much-punted renewal of the party will remain a mirage.
The critical role of political education cannot be overemphasised.