For democracy’s sake, vote out ANC

In a normal democracy, a political party governs for two terms. But in Africa, a political party (especially a former liberation movement) stays in power for 20 years and more.

In SA, the ANC has been in power for 30 years. Is that democracy?

It is not only political parties that overstay their welcome in the continent but presidents as well. Yoweri Museveni has been the president of Uganda for more than 30 years. Paul Kagame of Rwanda has also been at the helm for long. Fortunately, SA changes its president almost every 10 years.

That said, the ANC remains popular with the masses, despite its serious shortcomings – and failure to deliver services in important and critical areas.

Yet voters, especially black people, still believe in Cyril Ramaphosa’s party. This is partly because the governing party has played a leading role in the Struggle against apartheid.

The problem with South Africans is that they vote based on sentiment, not policy and performance. On May 29, the nation goes to the polls for general elections. There is a notion that the ANC might lose power or get less than 50%. The truth is: we don’t really know what the elections outcome would be.

The ANC has become its own worst enemy. Internal power struggles have become the order of day. The party is obsessed with power and control of state resources. And its leaders are consumed by greed, money and material. As a result, it has lost focus on its promises.

My wish is that, in the forthcoming elections, the ANC lose power for the sake of democracy – and for its own sake. The only rescue is for the governing party to be outvoted. Thabile Mange, Mogale City