₦airaland Forum

Opposition tactics by Kgalema Motlanthe

Back to the politics of fear

History repeats itself. This week the Democratic Alliance (DA) unveiled its last ditch effort to garner votes ahead of the April 22 election. It wants to stop the ANC getting a two-thirds majority. This brought to mind an article that I wrote over a decade ago, as the country was in the early stages of preparing for our second democratic election. It is worth revisiting that article now, because it reveals the extent to which the DA is locked in the past; stuck in an era when fear and prejudice was seen as a legitimate political platform.

One of the parties mentioned in the article has disappeared. The other one has changed its name and got a new leader. It is now 11 years later. But, sadly, everything else remains the same. This is the article as it was written:
A two-thirds majority: the new 'swart gevaar'(black fear)
The National Party and the Democratic Party have managed to whip themselves up into quite a frenzy over the possibility that the ANC could win a two-thirds majority in the 1999 elections.

The question that needs to be asked is why, in a constitutional democracy where voters are free to decide on the party of their choice, have the opposition created such a fuss about this particular fraction.

The answer lies in great measure in these parties' approach to contesting the ANC's support.

Lacking a coherent or realisable vision for a better South Africa, these parties have fallen back on the promotion of fear to erode the ANC's support and to generate a mood of resistance to meaningful change.

The 'swart gevaar' and 'rooi gevaar', now devoid of their previous menace, have mutated into the two-thirds gevaar.

If fear is the opposition's most enduring weapon, then a two-thirds ANC majority is their latest ammunition.

The National Party tells us that a two-thirds ANC majority spells danger for democracy, reconciliation and nation building. The Democratic Party calls for a stand against an 'autocratic, all powerful government'.

Their recent preoccupation with this question is quite telling.

For one thing, it demonstrates their abiding fear of the will of the people. A fear of democracy.

It was with great reluctance in the first place that these two parties acceded to majority rule in South Africa, and to this day they continue to show scant regard for the wishes and aspirations of the people of this country.

They fail to acknowledge that the ANC's majority in this country constitutes a solemn and overwhelming mandate to implement a programme of reconstruction, development and democratic transformation.

When ANC members of parliament push transformative legislation through parliament on health, education and other matters they do so not because the ANC is autocratic, but because it is profoundly democratic.

The ANC is often forced to use its majority to pass legislation which opposition parties bitterly object to not because it is arrogant or unreasonable, but because it has a responsibility to the millions of South Africans who elected it to create a more equitable society.

Even during the negotiations process, some of these parties sought a constitutional arrangement which would forever entrench a minority veto in this country. They wanted to constrain the will of the majority by promoting disproportionately the narrow interests of a few.

Their latest outbursts about the 'danger' of a two-thirds ANC majority shows that they have not yet moved very far from this inherent dislike of democracy.

It speaks volumes, also, that so early in the election campaign the NP and DP are preparing to lose. The only question for them, it seems, is by how much and at what cost to the ANC.

That is surely not the approach of parties who have confidence that their policies and programmes can win the support of the majority of South Africans.

It is the approach instead of parties who are acutely aware that the policies they propogate appeal only to those small sections of the population who want to cling on to the privileges they gained under apartheid.

The National Party and Democratic Party have neither the capacity nor the inclination to lead this country towards a better life, and they know it.

They have therefore cast themselves as spoilers in the democratic transition.

Their responsibility, as they themselves define it, is to place whatever obstacles they can in the way of a smooth transformation. Their performance in the national Parliament, the various Provincial Legislatures and numerous local councils around the country have provided ample evidence of this.

They see themselves as opposition parties in the most literal sense of the word - oppose the ANC at all costs, and don't bother too much about developing a viable, sustainable alternative.

But perhaps the most astounding feature of their new-found preoccupation, is that it demonstrates how very short their memories are.

Was it not the Democratic Party which "expressed reservations" on the adoption of the new Constitution? Was it not the National Party which said it found it "difficult" to vote in favour of the Constition?

The new Constitution gave enough power to Cosatu to make or unmake governments and to break the economy, Tony Leon warned us. South Africa would pay a high price for opting for majority rule, FW de Klerk said. "It is a mistake," were his exact words.

The ANC, by contrast, had no reservations about voting for the new Constitution. No difficulty. No hesitation.

The ANC voted for the new Constitution because it encapsulates the fundamental human rights and democratic values for which the ANC had fought since its establishment in 1912. More than any other party in this country, the ANC embraced the new Constitution because it considers it a vehicle through which the rights of all South Africans can be safeguarded and the inequalities and injustices of the past redressed.

The intervening two years have done nothing to diminish the ANC's support for the Constitution, nor for the basic freedoms and rights which it guarantees.

How then do you explain the opposition's insistence that given the opportunity the ANC would willingly undo the very freedoms for which the organisation fought over many decades, and for which many of its cadres and supporters lost their lives?

Certainly not by virtue of any logic.

The only way to explain this obsession with a two-thirds majority is to recognise what both the NP and the DP have recognised: that the ANC is the only organisation in South Africa capable of fundamentally transforming our society and replacing inequality with a better life for all.

They recognise also that in order to achieve this objective, the ANC needs to continue to enjoy the support of the majority of South Africans.

And it is for that reason that they are trying so desperately, even at this early stage, to deny the ANC the overwhelming electoral manadate it needs to continue and accelerate the reconstruction and development of South Africa.

May 1998

Postscript: In the decade since this article was first published, the ANC has in fact held a two-thirds majority in Parliament. In all this time it has not used this majority to change the Constitution in the way that these opposition parties predicted. It is has no intention to do so now. This is the Constitution for which the ANC fought, and we will continue to do everything we can to defend it.

>> Kgalema Motlanthe is the Deputy President of the ANC and the President of the country.
http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/anctoday/2009/at15.htm

Angelheart:
@RSA: Bra yaka go jwang?

Ke teng my sista,wena o right?

morpheus24:
Incredible how being "too advanced for Africa" is seen as a bad attribute. You should have said he was more of a capitalist thinker who believes in the trickle down effect of wealth versus broad socialist agendas that try to solve poverty by giving government "handouts" to citizens. Mbeki was actually a good president despite what a lot of people continue to say. The so called silence diplomacy you say was an extremely good strategy on his part and I gurantee you Mr. Zuma will continue it as far as Zimbabwe. The implications of a much harsher strategy in alignment with the West will breed long term problems.

South Africa is traddling btw a first world/ third world dilemma all at the same time. Lets hope Mr Zuma is bright enough not to alienate the capitalist thinkers who offer the investment opportunities for the poor who offer nothing but one man one vote.

Nicely said,I aggree with you that Mbeki was a good President,we all know that he is a very intelligent man,maybe too intelligent for people around him,because there are stories that he was not good at taking advises,what he say goes.In a country where 4 million people are infected with AIDS and majority are uneducated you don't have to speak in interllectual and philosophical terms,when you say HIV does not cause AIDS but poverty do people will believe that ,they wont analyse your statement the way you want them to.

Yes South Africa's situation is very different to any country in the continent,Because a president should protect the poor and still look after the rich interest,tough job indeed.
But Zuma has been accused of being a political chameleon,he changes with the audiance,I don't know if it is a good tactic but if this work then I am happy.

I think that lot of things still need to be fixed in this country and blacks must pull together,we cannot afford to split our votes at this moment,our votes is the only thing that give us power,whites owned the economy and we need a political will to reverse this.

TerryWrist:
Life is quite simple but it is not fools that try to make it complicated. A terrorist is a person who inspires terror and since Nelson Mandela inspired terror this makes him a terrorist, FULL STOP!

Between Mandela and the apaartheid goverment who 'inpired terror'?.If you can answer that I will allow you to put your FULL STOP

IFELEKE:
@RSA
How are you?,It's been a while. . .
Do You really think Zuma is the right man for the job considering his criminal records and volatile nature?
No abuse Intended.

Yes my brother I am still here,I honestly think that he will do much better,Irrespective of what the media say,he is the peoples person,It took NPA(National Prosecuting Authority) almost ten years to charge Zuma because they did'nt have enough evidence,during this period called the meeting with newspapers editors and told them that they have a primaface case against Zuma but it is unwinnable in court?They did that to tarnish his political career,to loose people trust,to be judged in public opinion courts.Now that we all know what we knew that there was political interference(there are phone tab recording to prove this).Mbeki and his friends used state resources to get Zuma.Zuma being the typical Zuluman he is fought with everything he got and came out victorious.

I don't think he's got criminal records as you have stated,but he was accused of criminal activities which he was aquitted in court(rape charges) and his corruption case dropped.Our media has always been anti black goverment,some experts say this is good since they're the watchdog of the goverment,but most of them are white supremist who think blacks cannot rule and are messing up everything even when the records show that the true is the opposite.
This will be the most open President we ever had.who will listen to people,who will make decisions with people,thats all South Africa need now.

He has met business people and minority groups,and they are happy with him,In his Election  Manifesto he says he will fight corruption,be transparent,fight crime,improve the quality of our education,build houses for the poor,supporting SME's, Black Empowerment policies and have a dedicated HIV/AIDS ministry to deal with the desease.

JJYOU:
does it matter? they are used to being ruled by their enemies and oppressors.

Zuma 100% Zuluboy,100% ANC

I think Zuma is the right man for the job,Hated by few loved my many.And the campaing is going on well.

I saw your message to Johanne on skyscrapercity, I apologise.I guess I have been a naughty boy

Lydon:
RSA, please STOP using photos that are not yours or credit the original photographers as I know the photographers of half of these photos and some are not amused at all. These are not your private property.

Look I have never said I took this pictures,if you have followed this thread you will have read somewhere that some of this pictures come from skyscapercity.com.
This is not about me 'stealing' pictures but its about showing the nairaland the 2010 developments,Iam not getting credit for this but South Africa's local organising commitee and the goverment do.Please look at the bigger pic my brother.I think you're being childish now.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-151426.0.html

@Heyo,since Morpeus mention township I think it will a sin not to go SOWETO(South Western Townships),here are some of the pics from Soweto and it's people

Some tourist from different African states

Nelson Mandela Bay won the Best African City of the Year award at the World Leadership Awards held in London earlier this month.

The City also won first prize in the Health category for the Emmanuel Haven project; a Christian response to HIV and AIDS made up of a research unit, an anti-retroviral clinic, orphans club and Christian outreach programme.

The World Leadership Awards are organised by the World Leadership Forum. The non-governmental organisation promotes leadership by stimulating debate on leadership issues and highlighting the work of exceptional leaders.

More than 400 cities across the world are asked to submit projects for the Leadership Awards. These encompass a range of activities including; Architecture & Civil Engineering, Culture and the arts, Economy and/or Employment, Health, Housing, Sport, Urban Renewal and Town Planning.

Awards are then given to cities whose leaders have shown exceptional imagination, foresight or resilience and those cities that have reversed trends and acted as an example and inspiration to others.

For the first time since the inception of the awards in 2005, judges declared four cities to be City of the Year for their region. These were Nelson Mandela Bay (Africa), Las Vegas, USA (America), Amman, Jordan (Asia-Pacific) and Madrid, Spain (Europe).

An overwhelmed Executive Mayor Councillor Nondumiso Maphazi, said it was a special moment for Nelson Mandela Bay. “This has indeed proved that Nelson Mandela Bay is committed to working with the people in improving their lives for the better.

“The name Nelson Mandela Bay will continue to travel around the world, and serve as an outstanding marketing tool for attracting tourists, as well as local and international investors" she added.

In 2005 Nelson Mandela Bay’s entry The Red Location Museum of Struggle won the Architecture & Civil Engineering Category, while their Sustainable Community Planning entry won the Town Planning category.

More pics of PE

More Port E

Port Elizabeth is also known as Mandela bay,nicknamed Friendly city or windy city

@Heyo,as far as I know,(as a South African,I'm sure u are aware),South African girls likes Nigerians.For video's I will advise you to get them from agencies,I think it's cheaper in Joburg(including Sandton) than in Cape Town but maybe you should try Port Elizabeth,some of the most beautiful people lives there and are very friendly,also Port Elizabeth is a very beautiful city,believe me

This is what you find in the Zulus Kingdom,in Durban Kwazulu Natal Province

You can take your car for a wash aswell

I know you gonna like this part of Capetown

More of Cape

Or you can catch a plane to Cape Town,which is 1400 kilometers from Joburg,if you're an explorer you can drive,it is safe and the scenery is breath taking,and beside you will be sleeping in Bed and breakfast in this small towns,beautiful.And Cape town if full white people,locals or internationals and there are lot of mixed people here aswell.But you need to bring lots of money,things are not too cheap here.

Or you can to Pretoria,this is the capital city,it is 40 kilometers from Johannesburg

Or you can go to Sandton city,all busineses from CBD inJohannesburg moved here.There are lot of white chicks and its very safe its about 15 kilometers from Joburg(It is still part of greaterJoburg0.

Athough most businesses left CBD around ten years ago,goverment is rebuilding the inner CBD and some businesses and residence have come back to the city,its not yet safe

@Heyo I can only show you pictures of South Africans cities,and you make your choice,Lets start with Johannesburg,you wont find lot of white chicks here,but the city is vibrant,the biggest city in SA.

@ Hurus, thank you,very nice

sholabanke:
stay like that

Lolabbey:
lik wht?huh?

Mandela

@Allboy,One thing I've noticed about Nigerian players is they perfomed well under pressure,they where not under any pressure when they faced Mozambique,they thought they've already won that game.u're next game will completely be a different ball game,Mozambique was a wakeup call,and the good thing is it happen early in the group stages and you didn't loose that game.
I don't think you need to press panic button now,you're far from a disaster.
Good luck and hope to see that green and white band in our stands soon.

Lolabbey:
tnks

sholabanke:
sorry
not to u

A black guy walks into the local welfare office, marches straight up to the counter and says, "Hi, You know, I just HATE drawing welfare. I'd really rather have a job."

The social worker behind the counter says, "Your timing is excellent. We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants a chauffeur and bodyguard for his beautiful nymphomaniac daughter.

You'll have to drive around in his Mercedes, but he'll supply all of your clothes. Because of the long hours, meals will be provided. You'll be expected to escort her on her overseas holiday trips. You will have to satisfy her sexual urges. You'll be provided a two-bedroom apartment above the garage. The starting salary is R1 200 000 a year."

The guy, wide-eyed, says, "You're bullshittin' me!"

The social worker says, "Yeah, well , you started it."

Thank you guys,another one from Mandelasland

Gauteng Metro policeman pulled Sipho's car over and

told him that because he had been wearing his seat belt

he had just won R5 000, in an Arrive Alive safety competition.

Sipho could hardly believe his luck.

"What are you going to do with your cash?" asked the traffic cop.

"Well I guess I'm going to get a drivers license," Sipho answered.

"Oh, don't listen to him," yelled Dipuo in the passenger seat.

"He tries to be smart when he's drunk."

This woke up Rodger in the back seat who took one look at

the cop and moaned, "I knew we wouldn't get far in a stolen car."

At that moment there was a knock from the boot and Zakes' voice said,

"Are we over the border yet?"

From a cruise ship, a passenger notices a bearded man on a small, remote island shouting and desperately waving his hands.
"Who is that?" he asks the captain.
"I've no idea. Every year when we pass, he goes mad."