The stark choice facing the ANC — renewal or coalition

"there is no credible opposition party to steer the country away from the high seas." I seriously don't understand this statement. The DA is a truly multiracial, highly credible opposition party with a proven governance track record that anyone with eyes can see beats the ANC completely. If you're looking for perfection, then Earth is not the planet for you, but if you truly want improvement then your solution is literally staring you in the face.

I wish DM readers could be a bit more generous. Not just endless grumbling. Here is an ANC guy, reading and participating on our hugely appreciated DM. And saying, like the Veterans, what needs to be done. Sure, it is most unlikely to happen, but these are the voices we, and the ANC, needs. Thank you Omry.

Mr Makgoale, I get it! As a member of the ANC - one who continues to believe in its principles & foundations & as probably someone who has looked to live up to those ideals- it must be difficult for you to throw in the towel completely. I mean, without hope, what have any of us got & it also renders our dedication, efforts & commitment meaningless I am not suggesting your contribution & sacrifice has been worthless - nor that you should give up hope. What I do however believe is that you lack critical mass support within your beloved party to effect the change you so desire. That if you wish to revive & re-build that which you believe in will require that you (& like minded individuals) break away & start again! Good luck to you All

"The disadvantages are that even if an ethical ANC leadership comes into being in future, it will not be able to make the substantial reforms needed by the majority of the South African population." Sorry! Even denying reality and assuming an ethical ANC leadership [!] the ANC will still not be able to make the needed reforms. Ideologically, it is committed to a Marxist / neo-Marxist centralised command & control economy. Wherever this has been tried, it has failed, resulting in either the revolutionary vanguard leaders having to imprison their worker/denizens or a migrant refugee problem as those who experience their economies want to escape to the West. In particular the two Germanies, 2 Koreas and 2 Vietnams, with similar populations & similar starting points, are real-world experiments that proved the issue. China's economy only took off (caught up to Taiwan) when it dropped Maoism for "the colour of the cat does not matter as long as it catches the mice". Somehow, market-led economies create more wealth & reduce poverty far better than dirigiste. Political parties represent interest groups. The cabinet and NEC are mostly SACP and/or former unionists. While the unions keep the ANC in power, it will not have escaped the ANC's notice that most upmarket suburbs (presumably the people who can afford those houses are taxpayers: businesspeople/professionals) vote against them and the required reforms will suit them, too. Can the ANC cross its Rubicon?

ANC renewal? Never going to happen. Sadly, the downward spiral will simply continue and probably accelerate. As for coalitions, just look at Johannesburg.

"If the ANC fails to renew itself, it will have no option but to form a coalition after next year’s general election" wrote Omry Makgoale in the Daily Maverick. I'm sorry to break it down you Mr Makgoale but that ship sailed a long time ago. The ANC betrayed the promise of '94 the moment the Polokwane conference elected Jacob Zuma as its president. Never had I imagined that such a glorious organisation would elect an individual with corruption allegations hanging over his head. Surely there were other worthy individuals who were equally capable of leading the party, but it had to be him. Why? On that fateful day, the ANC ceased to exist as a leader of society. Their true colors were revealed by their actions, not their words.

The deep hatred in the black peoples psychic must not be under estimated and the perception to many blacks is that the DA is associated with this. The ANC is still perceived by many black people to be the ant--apartheid party. No matter how bad the ANC government is it is still seen by many as better that what apartheid government was. Until this perception can be broken it may loose the majority but will still remain the biggest party. Just look at recent byelection!

The time for renewal is over for the ANC and it has shown that it is incapable of renewing itself and the author should be blind or not following events including the statements of Ramaphosa and Mbalula. He is also behind in terms of what has been in the news over the past week and weekend. The fact is that the ANC structures are in disarray because the tap of the proceeds of corruption to oil its machinery is slowly closing. The non payment of salaries, UIF, pensions and medical aid by the ANC is a sign of a party that has reached a crisis point. The writer seems to be oblivious to the fact that elections are won by parties with functional structures and resources. The other issue is that the leadership must have credibility and people must be able to believe in what the party says. The ANC is on a very steep decline and the coalition is not an if but when the elections results are announced the coalitions will be a reality at national and Provincial level. For free one can tell the author that the ANC is going to lose three Provinces with certainty and that is KZN, Free State and Gauteng and majorities will be greatly reduced in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the North West if it is not going to be amongst the dominoes. The article is for January 2022 because it is too late now.

Omry there is a credible alternative to an ANC "run" government. It is the DA in coalition with like-minded political parties. The problem is that the many urban voters and those in the rural areas are , due to a lack of sources of balanced information, unaware of the true state of affairs in our country. The rural voters in particular, I believe, will simply put their crosses in the ANC block. Until such time as moderate and progressive parties can reach and educate these voters, and others, I fear it will be more of the same.

I don't get why the DA isn't communicating with the masses away from the cities. The people need to hear that they won't lose their grants. It's the main thing holding the DA back. The DA is a truly multiracial, highly credible opposition party with a proven governance track record that anyone with eyes can see beats the ANC completely. DA spends over 70% of it’s budget in Cape Town on the poor. They are competent, empathetic, honest and non-racist. Read the DA’s manifesto for more details on their policies.