ANC unites under threat

WHEN the ANC’s foundation is shaken, the ruling party has a tendency to unite. It has suffered a number of controversies, ethnic divisions and breakaways.

In 1959 Mangaliso Sobukwe formed the troubled Pan Africanist Congress.

Bantu Holomisa took his share with the UDM, with the intention to paralyse the movement in the former Transkei region, but he extinguished himself.

Mosiuoa Lekota and Sam Shilowa formed the Congress of the People with the blessings of former president Thabo Mbeki. It was regarded as home to his loyalists and an alternative to others, but was sooner crippled by power hunger.

The recent formation of the problematic EFF by former ANC Youth League president and firebrand Julius Malema is just a parliamentary disturber, a laughing stock and an acid test for the ruling party.

Helen Zille’s strategies while leader of the DA were to put blacks upfront to make inroads in black townships. The DA’s aim of taking the important and hotly contested metros like Nelson Mandela and Tshwane is just a daydream.

The national crisis of poor basic services delivery and corrupt individuals within is the matter to be addressed prior to elections to dampen the masses.

Most critics locally, nationally and internationally think that the ANC’s stubbornness in failing to recall the president is its downfall. History is against them, because this is another critical area that unites the ruling party.

Tomorrow will see the party that liberated this country, and led it into a peaceful and bloodless transition emerging triumphantly.

As long as the opposition in this country is so fragmented with contradicting ideas it will never oust the ANC with its alliance partners.

Zingisile Melford Kobo, Zwide, Port Elizabeth