ANC may cling on to power

THE election of Cyril Ramaphosa as president of the ANC by the closest of margins in December 2017 has culminated in a new trajectory from the Zuma-led years.

For many South Africans, who hoped for better years since democracy, this became a beacon of hope.

We have all been well-acquainted with the failures of government at various levels.

The common thread in all these failures is the appointment of incompetent persons – which ties in with cadre deployment – corruption and the arrogance that have crept in during their years of governing.

Ramaphosa’s election to power unveiled the tyranny prevalent within the higher echelons of power in the ANC, especially the NEC, during the Zuma era. Ramaphosa has, at best, tried to deal with the obvious issues of corruption and incompetence, which have become entrenched and difficult to resolve.

His role to move or bring South Africa back to a new dawn ironically can result in defeat for him within the ANC. Of how he has crafted his position from one of the leaders having been elected with the smallest margin of victory can only be said that he has played his cards well.

But his position is still under threat. The evidence played out at the Zondo Commission and how the ANC ruled against the very principles it based its core values on was distressing to say the least.

The local government elections on November 1 will provide a serious threat to the ANC as we recognise that this organisation may be at its weakest when it pursues a journey of reform. It does not have the financial resources to initiate the campaigns it exercised during previous elections.

Its leader, while favoured by more South Africans than his predecessor, remains weaker as leader within the party. The irony is that if there was a strong opposition – like the ANC was to the National Party – the ANC would lose the election.

It's a sad reality that our opposition remains fragmented, there are some non-clearcut policies or there is little to offer.

In the end, the ANC may cling on to power, not because of delivery or efficient leadership, but the lack of leadership within the others to provide alternatives. Hopefully, the ANC will read the warning signs and the opposition can get its act together.

DR MURTHI SOOBOO

Centurion