Picture: The ANC member, Orapeleng Matshediso/Facebook
By ORAPELENG MATSHEDISO
Some of us were privileged enough to have been recruited into the ANC and other organisations of the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM) by comrades, who patiently taught us both the written and unwritten founding principles of our organisations.
We have been taught to internalise and put into practice the phrase that says: “Let the best lead us.” We have been taught to appreciate and accept that, even within or among our own generation, there are comrades who are more seasoned and capacitated than us, and we have to always respect that fact.
Let me give an example, comrades such as David Maimela, Mosimanegape Moleme, Buti Manamela and many others are to a certain extent my generation. Acknowledging and accepting that they are somehow senior to some of us, does not make us lesser leaders.
This has been an unwritten principle that was internalised and practised within the congress movement for over years.
This unwritten principle has been key in reducing unnecessary leadership contestations. I am not suggesting that, we should not contest each other as generations. I am merely reflecting on how the principle of “Let the best amongst us lead” assisted the organisation and provided it with an opportunity to be led by comrades, who are equal to the tasks of the epoch.
I am reminded by the books of history that, in 1912 in Mangaung, the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), today known as ANC – maturely managed leadership elections. Apparently, John Langalebalele Dube was elected in absentia, he was represented by his brother, Charles Dube at the founding conference.
We are also told that, initially, the first president of the ANC or SANNC was supposed to be comrade Walter Rubusana, who declined the election in favour of comrade John Langalebalele Dube. What is of interest to me is that, comrade Pixley Ka isaka Seme never had a sense of entitlement to the leadership position on the basis that was amongst the prominent organisers of the conference.
Instead, comrade Seme became the first Treasurer of the ANC.
Today, those who are tasked to organise conferences are rigging them in their favour or their faction. Today, leadership in the ANC is no longer about electing those who are equal to the task of the day, but it’s about self and factional gratification.
The ANC is an organisation with a very rich history that as younger generation could learn from in the quest for unity, rebuilding and renewal.
Note: (The views raised in this article do not represent Taung DailyNews or its Associates, but remain the views of the author. Taung DailyNews does not agree nor disagree with them)
*Mr Orapeleng Vanilla Matshediso is an academic, former Secretary General, President of the SRC at North West University (Mafikeng campus), the current Deputy District Secretary of the SACP in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and a member of the ANC in good standing. Mr Matshediso wrote this in his personal capacity.
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