Experts: ANC leaders put themselves ahead of voters
THE ANC in KwaZulu-Natal is fractious because elected party leaders place their personal interests ahead of voters, say two political analysts.
Independent analysts Protas Madlala and Zakhele Ndlovu of UKZN have blamed party leaders for the ongoing squabbles in the ANC, particularly in KZN.
“Delegates to ANC conferences vote based on what they are going to get in return. It’s not free and fair polls any more. This pattern of voting during conferences cripples the organisation because genuine leaders are sidelined,” he said.
Madlala said while members of the ANC in KZN were clashing over a string of issues, including the validity of the conference’s results, ordinary citizens were bearing the brunt.
“The sad part is that ANC leaders have put their own personal interests first and deserted the people who actually voted for them,” he said.
Zakhele Ndlovu, from UKZN, agreed, saying: “It’s a serious concern, that 21 years into democracy some leaders are pre-occupied with material things.”
Ndlovu warned the ANC that people were getting fed up with the factions that beset the party in KZN.
“No one is talking about the people who voted for them; they’re all talking about positions,” he added.
Two weeks after former party secretary Sihle Zikalala defeated Premier Senzo Mchunu for the post of party chairman in KZN, infighting still continues.
On Monday, thousands of Mchunu supporters marched to the party’s provincial office in Stalwart Simelane (Stanger) Street demanding a re-run of the conference. They claim the conference was riddled with irregularities, including “cooked” results. They gave the party’s national office an ultimatum of seven days, which ends tomorrow, to respond to their grievances.
The convener of the KZN conference, Dr Joe Phaahla, confirmed the receipt of the grievances, but said it was an internal matter.
Two days after the protest, the ANC Youth League convened a media briefing where they ordered Mchunu to call his supporters to order. Mchunu has been tight-lipped about party issues, but he has been continuing with his government task.
Word within the party was some party leaders were oper- ating behind the scenes. It is believed that Zikalala’s victory is set to clear the path for President Jacob Zuma’s ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, current AU chairwoman, to be elected as party president and, potentially, that of the country in the 2019 national elections.
The calls for a woman president have been accelerated by the dawn of the so-called “premier league” claimed to be campaigning for a woman president to succeed Zuma.
It is believed that the “premier league” is made up of Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza, North West’s Supra Mahumapelo and Ace Magashule of Free State. All three premiers are known allies of Zuma.
Zweli Mkhize, the party treasurer and former premier of KZN, is said to be counting on Zikalala to support him for the party’s deputy president post.
On the other hand, Mchunu’s loss is considered a knock to deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa’s hopes of ascending to the top job.
As the factions deepen, it remains to be seen whether the ANC in KZN will still have its tag of being kingmaker in national conferences.
Madlala said the province would go to the national conference divided. “This kingmaker myth is dead and the damage is beyond repair,” he said.
On the issue of the troubled eThekweni regional conference, newly elected chairman Sihle Zikalala has reiterated that the conference will convene.
The contest between James Nxumalo, an Mchunu ally, and councillor Zandile Gumede, a Zikalala supporter, was adjourned indefinitely in May after a group of ANC members, believed to be supporting Gumede, brought it to an abrupt halt.