Daily Archives: May 21, 2021

Opinion: The ANC must renew and rebuild to morally regenerate the society

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Picture: Orapeleng Matshidiso/Supplied

By ORAPELENG MATSIDISO

Organisational renewal means among other things, the ability of the ANC to be a beacon of hope and genuine leader of the society through the deployment of its ethical and capable leaders in pursuit of its historic task of serving the people, fighting corruption and maleficence so as to effectively and efficiently lead the process of social transformation.

“At core of the ANC’s task in the current period is the renewal of the organization for it to exercise societal leadership in a changing environment…ANC cadres need to be located in all these centres (sites of powers), exercising leadership not by decree or through arrogance; but in terms of logic of their ideas, through their organizational acumen and from exemplary conduct. Honesty, hard work, humility, ethics and respect for the people are some of the core attributes that they should evince”- ANC Strategy and Tactics of 2017

The ANC must as a leader of the society renew and morally regenerate to inspire hope to the people of South Africa.  In its 54th National Conference, the ANC as a leader of the society has resolved to lead the renewal and the moral regeneration of the society.

The reality is that, the ANC must be the mirror of the society it envisages, it is only renewed and morally regenerated ANC that could lead the societal renewal and its moral regeneration program.

An ancient philosopher and a thinker, Plato has in his writings taught us that the “philosopher kings” meaning leaders are deployed into positions of responsibility to set up systems of government that serve the “city” society, but as they do so, they are somehow guided by their different kinds of personal desires; the desire for material benefits, honour and good reputation, and the desire for knowledge and truth. Plato believes that, the “philosopher kings” (leaders) might take advantage of the “city” society to attain and satisfy their desires.

In his argument, to avoid corruption, all members of the society must be training and socialized through education. In my view, corruption has always been a societal problem and there must be a strong system of government that genuinely fight corruption and maleficence.

As part of its efforts to enhance its integrity and fight against corruption, the ANC has in the 54th National Conference deliberated and amongst others resolved that provincial and National Executive Committees should “Demand that every cadre accused of, or reported to be involved in, corrupt practices accounts to the Integrity Committee immediately or face DC process. Summarily suspend people who fail to give an acceptable explanation or to voluntarily step down, while they face disciplinary, investigative or prosecutorial procedure”.

Just like the “philosopher kings” cadres have used state resources meant for service delivery to attain and satisfy their desires for material benefit, therefore, all cadres implicated into corruption must step aside or down for the ANC to renew and reassume it position of unquestionable moral standing in the society and be able to lead the process of social transformation and moral regeneration of the society.

*Orapeleng Vanilla Matshediso is a member of the ANC in Dr Ruth Mompati Region, the Deputy Executive Director of Higher Education Transformation Network and an employee of Dr Ruth Mompati District Municipality, this article represents his personal view. The issues raised here does not necessary represent Taung DailyNews.

Opinion: The renewal project of the ANC must encapsulate nipping political clientelism in the bud

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Picture: Sello Tatai/ Facebook

By SELLO TATAI

The political literature of Africa’s independence is awash with many case studies of malfeasance. This administrative conundrum has had an adverse impact in the socio-political and economic stability of many post-colonial countries.

This has often resulted into civil wars, genocides, famine and human rights abuses.

Chinua Achebe in his much-celebrated novel, A Man of the People, augments this narrative through a dubious character named Chief Nanga whom after independence becomes the Minister of Culture.

His primary responsibility is to become a custodian of the country’s traditions and culture instead he uses his political power to only serve himself, his pals and some in his constituency.

He further uses his wealth to bribe law enforcement agencies and other officials in an attempt to amass more political power and enrich himself as well as his family. He also preys on vulnerable young women determined to overcome the post-colonial mirage.

South Africa’s post-Apartheid discourse mirrors a similar narrative and over the past few years provincial governments and municipalities have fallen prey to political clientelism. 

In its watershed Conference of 2017, the African National Congress committed to the renewal of the organisation. This as a consequence of cronyism, patronage and critically clientelism which have engulfed the organisation since at least the 2007 Polokwane Conference.

This has had a detrimental impact on the smooth running of government and in particular the country’s municipalities where the poor and economically disenfranchised reside.

In the North West the appalling state of municipalities has left many residents disgruntled.

Some maintain the ANC is vindicating those who are still clamouring for the

Bophuthatswana Administration. They allege a flourishing infrastructure which was inherited from Mangope’s government has been left to decay leaving hundreds of communities in a state of paralysis akin to many failed post-colonial democracies.

Under the banner of Khawuleza, an initiative by the ANC to expedite service delivery, the governing party maintains its members in public office need to be agents of change.

High on the agenda is to put emphasis on ethical leadership, fight corruption in all its forms, and to speed up the delivery of services with the sole purpose of improving the lives of South Africans.

While these intentions are noble and are aimed at putting the ANC in the right political trajectory, the diagnosis seems to be wrong. Issues ranging from corruption, mal-administration, fraud and patronage are variables of a broader malice which is political clientelism.

Political clientelism can be defined as a reciprocal relationship which provides political support in exchange for granting access to state resources.

This practice relies on the use of state resources to provide jobs and services for mass political support as access is in most instances conditioned on subordination, compliance and dependence on the goodwill of power brokers who have the money.

As the governing party gears itself towards this year’s local government elections the ANC must guard against the processes designed to nominate councillors being hijacked by political & tender-preneurs.

The country’s municipalities are currently riddled with councillors who first and foremost pledge their allegiance to business people who funded their campaigns and later their political bishops who have assisted them manipulate nomination and list processes.

Tenderpreneurs would later be rewarded with lucrative tenders while political bishops would be granted support with money accrued from state projects.

In the process service delivery is compromised due to shoddy work. As accountability fails to trickle down violent service delivery protests become the order of the day. 

This is not far from how Chief Nanga was toppled.

And as the masses turned their backs on him the post-colonial state was thrown into a state of disarray and consequently a civil war.

*Sello Tatai is an activist and a former journalist. He writes in his personal capacity and these views does not necessary represent Taung DailyNews.

Breaking News: A man nabbed for alleged rape and murder of a girl (4)

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Picture: The deceased, Tshimologo Lotshabeng (4)

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A-26-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested in connection with the alleged rape and murder of Tshimologo Lotshabeng (4) in Kgomotso village near Pampierstad. North West police spokesperson, Lit Col Amanda Funani said the suspect was arrested on Thursday at his residential areas in Jan Kempdorp.

“The apprehension comes after Lotshabeng’s naked body and clothes were found in the bushes on Sunday. It is alleged that the suspect is a colleague and one of the people who accompanied Tshimologo’s mother from the tavern to her friend’s house, where she slept. 

“The suspect allegedly waited for the mother to fall asleep, then kidnapped the child and took her to the nearby bushes where he raped and killed her. The suspect is expected to appear in the Kgomotso Magistrate’s Court on Monday,” Funani said.

She further said the investigation into the matter including the possibility of charging the mother is underway.  

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Dintletse Molefe applauded the police for their sterling job. Molefe said the brutal killings such as this one cannot be tolerated and that the police will continue to work hard to ensure that the suspect is convicted.

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