ANC wooing voters Rajbansi-style
THERE was a time when Amichand Rajbansi was in the cross-hairs of his political rivals. Anti-apartheid activists denounced, deplored and detested the late former chairman of the Ministers' Council of the House of Delegates.
Not only were Rajbansi’s detractors opposed to the tricameral parliamentary system that excluded blacks from government decision-making, but they also disliked him personally. They found him to be too crafty, cunning, wily and politically astute for their own liking. He was always one step ahead.
In fact, so calculating was he when it came to elections that he could have well published a rule book for the IEC on “How NOT to conduct elections”.
Rajbansi, nicknamed the Bengal Tiger by the late journalist Nagoor Bissetty for being smart and shrewd, came to mind a fortnight ago when President Cyril Ramaphosa (CR) danced to the Nagara beat at a vote-catching event organised by the ANC KZN at the Mellowood Hall in KwaDukuza (formerly Stanger). Now the name of the venue reminds me of a medicinal brandy that enjoyed a reputation for curing all sorts of ailments.
As I watched a WhatsApp video of the Nagara merrymaking that went viral, I could not help asking myself what must have come over the enthusiastic women who fell over themselves trying to curry favour or just plain suck up to CR by teaching him Indian dance moves.
I mean here was a man who has almost completed the task – initiated by his predecessor, Jacob Zuma – of destroying our beautiful South Africa by condoning state capture; corruption and mismanagement in government; significant unemployment; violent crime; insufficient or crumbling infrastructure; and poor government service delivery to impoverished communities.
I could not help noticing that CR is a quick learner, never mind that the scenes were akin to teaching an old dog new tricks. He wiggled his bum, raised his shoulders up and down, moved his hips for added effect, and performed the trademark Indian wedding dance floor moves – he raised his arms and pretended to be changing light bulbs. All that remained to complete the Nagara picture was for Cyril to have dressed in a Punjabi or brightly-coloured, sequinned sari.
The Nagara party, arranged by the ANC KZN, was just what the Natal Indian Congress, Transvaal Indian Congress, United Democratic Movement and other anti-system bodies were critical of when it was one of the various tactics that Rajbansi used to woo voters to the National People’s Party and its successor, the Minority Front.
At his election, Bhangra Bash, the
Chatsworth politician, would use the power of live music to draw voters like bees to honey. With catchy sound bites, playing the ethnic card, and appealing to cultural sentiments, he had the crowd all revved up and swooning over him.
Top show bands such as Regal Entertainers and Saraswathi Shainaaz were major drawcards. The dekshas of delicious breyani served during the run-up to elections, and on polling day, ensured that those with full bellies put their crosses next to Rajbansi’s face on the ballot forms.
Rajbansi was most adept at performing small acts that called for minimal financial outlay, but which bought him instant fame and popularity. He would attend large church services, where pastors were only too keen to welcome him. He would be sure to get his photo with church elders published in the media so that the rest of the congregation would support him on polling day.
Rajbansi was known to attend funerals of even people he did not know, counting on the mourners spreading the word that “the big and mighty Rajbansi” had taken time off from his busy schedule to pay his last respects.
The Raj was a master of breadand-butter (and breyani) politics – he attended to the issues that kept the working-class folk awake at night.
To make the point, I recall that when friends and I would be in high spirits in the small hours of the morning 40 years ago, for extra entertainment we would dial Rajbansi’s home number. He would answer even at 2am and one of my friends would complain to Rajbansi about mosquitoes in a swampy location.
Another friend would clap his hands to make as if he was trying to swat the nuisance insects. Rajbansi would take down the address and promise to follow up. Lo and behold, within days he would conduct an inspection in-loco with public health officials and issue a press statement. Now which political party’s representative or public servant will do this so diligently today?
Rajbansi exploited political patronage to maximum effect. A trick he often used – which the ANC also employs – is to get people who had received favours or had been appointed as public servants because of the political party’s backing, to go door to door convincing voters which party to support. Such canvassers felt beholden to Rajbansi and would unhesitatingly – and unashamedly – do his bidding.
Even if downtrodden, common folk turned up at Rajbansi’s door seeking help, they were treated with decorum and dignity. Rajbansi’s former wife Asha was a super entertainer and would go all out – serving samoosas, chilli bites and tea in fine bone china cups – to make the visitors feel recognised and respected. In turn they would spread the gospel of “Rajbansi, the poor man’s champion”.
During his time as a civic leader, Rajbansi arranged housing for many desperate families – and thus won their total devotion. I remember that despite wall-to-wall criticism in the media about Rajbansi’s corrupt ways, the late popular devotional singer Sonny Pillay would always swear allegiance to Rajbansi, saying: “I don’t care about his misdeeds. That is the man who put a roof above my head.”
Rajbansi perfected popular politics. He ensured his political activities were driven by ordinary citizens, rather than established political elites or institutions. He lived among his electorate in Chatsworth until his demise in December 2011.
How did this former schoolteacher and PRO for the Durban Milk Publicity Council acquire tricks and traits to hone his ability to exponentially grow his support base? I am convinced he must have watched too many Hindi movies that gave him ideas. The Asian subcontinent is well known for ploys and deceptions by political parties to entice voters.
India’s nearly one billion voters are going to the polls – the world’s largest democratic exercise – between April 19 and June 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are receiving campaign support from a slew of new films with story lines that overtly either promote Modi and his government’s policies, target rival politicians, or peddle Islamophobic conspiracies commonly circulated among Hindu right-wing networks that are aligned with the BJP’s political agenda.
Already a record quantity of bribes, including cash, booze, drugs, groceries, live chickens and precious metals worth just over $550 million (more than R10 billion), have been seized by Indian election authorities since March – the largest amount in the country’s 75-year electoral history.
Bribery during elections is a serious issue that undermines the democratic process and does not truly reflect the preferences of the people. The ANC must win votes by boasting of its achievements to improve the lives of the people – not by Ramaphosa displaying his Nagara boogie.