Democracy is not about the ANC putting its interests first
“Ithink that’s how democracy works, the majority must have its way… Democracy works that way… When the ANC believes its course is correct it will use its majority to push those decisions…”
These were the words of newly appointed Deputy President Paul Mashatile during a parliamentary Q&A.
In making that statement Mashatile displayed an attitude of ruling with an iron fist and being intolerant of differing arguments without bothering to ventilate whether or not they were substantive.
It cannot be true that “the majority” must have its way when “its way” is at odds with the Constitution and, perhaps more importantly, the best interests of the citizens who the ruling party claims to represent.
This was a demonstration of the ANC’s new tradition of putting the party first, maintaining power at all costs and closing ranks, forgetting that as the governing party its job is to serve the country. And part of that is being accountable to the people who voted them in to begin with.
It also bears mentioning that the reason that in 1994 the ANC decided to have a multiparty system was to ensure diverse representation of the views of South Africans, not just those of the ANC. Our Constitution’s Preamble even refers specifically to this when it recognises that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity”. Straying from this puts us in dangerous territory and at risk of losing the hard-fought gains of those who came before Mashatile.
Perhaps the deputy president needs reminding of the oath of office that he took just three weeks ago, namely: “I will be faithful to the Republic of South Africa and will obey, observe, uphold and maintain the Constitution and all other law of the Republic; and I solemnly and sincerely promise that I will always— promote all that will advance the Republic, and oppose all that may harm it; be a true and faithful counsellor; discharge my duties with all my strength and talents to the best of my knowledge and ability and true to the dictates of my conscience; do justice to all; and devote myself to the well-being of the Republic and all of its people.”
Nowhere in there does it say that his duty is to put party interests first. What it does say, however, is that his duty is to the country and its people and that he must do all he can to advance the country.
So no, Mr Mashatile, a constitutional democracy does not mean the ANC must have its way unchallenged; it means that decisions that are taken, and the corresponding actions, must pass constitutional muster and be according to the rule of law.
Ironically, these ill-informed and misleading utterances by Mashatile happened in the same week that the President was presiding over the national conference on the Constitution.
The issue here is not so much about Mashatile specifically, but about the kind of thinking and ideals he represents, which I fear may not be in the best interests of the majority of South Africans.