I was not really taken aback by the ANC’s secretary-general boasting about how he and another member of Parliament representing the ANC lied under oath in Parliament to protect their then leader, Jacob Zuma, from accounting for his alleged accusations of crime. Mbalula arrogantly, and without regret, boasted about abusing their majority to render democratic institutions useless, such as a dishonourable Parliament or Cabinet.
Our current political landscape has drastically lost the intellectual feature which existed at the end of the 1990s. The ANC’s post-2007 national conference in Polokwane institutionalised and in a way systemised corruption in the public sector. The ANC at the time resolved to dismantle corruption busters such as the Scorpions at a time when the unit was acting with intent against corruption. Then there were attempts to introduce authoritarian legislation such as the Protection of State Information Bill and others which would enable corruption in government apparatus.
As we engage in what we term comparative politics in political science, I was compelled to look at the history of the ANC where I had to assess the quality of all the secretaries-general the party has had since 1912. I concluded that Mbalula is the worst. He does not compare to the dignified and reputable previous SGs such as Sol Plaatje, Selope Thema, Bud M’belle, Saul Msane, Mweli Skota, EJ Khaile, Arthur Calata, Elijah Mdolomba, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Duma Nokwe, Alfred Nzo or Kgalema Motlanthe. I did not mention Gwede Mantashe and Cyril Ramaphosa because I think they and Mbalula are birds of a feather.
Mbalula’s revelations… should lead us to critically assess the entire political landscape in the country and suggest ways to rescue South Africa from savages masquerading as politicians.
I am not mentioning the likes of Plaatje – his classic writings and the work he executed on behalf of his party speak for themselves. With the technological advancement and availability of knowledge, I thought the political landscape of every country would upscale and compete with modern global international politics. Our politics are falling apart in terms of lacking intellectualism.
Mbalula’s revelations about what the ANC is doing or not doing, should lead us to critically assess the entire political landscape in the country and suggest ways to rescue South Africa from savages masquerading as politicians.
As a journalist, I used to attend some of the political gatherings (municipal council meetings or party conferences), and was hugely disappointed while listening to casual engagements among “comrades” who did not ignite or inspire intellectualism in their discussions. More time is spent on planning which projects should be given to who, and how much should be shared among the “comrades”.
Read more in Daily Maverick: Consistency, truth and the ANC’s Fikile Mbalula Problem
I am a former student activist so I am used to political or ideological discussions whenever “comrades” meet. It could be in a classroom, dormitories or a beer hall – we normally pick any issue and debate it; not to win or lose, but to learn from each other. I think that is no longer happening and it is worrisome because it means that our political space is now going to be crowded by the so-called tenderpreneurs who also double as assassins or izinkabi who go out neutralising their opponents.
I think the ANC and all political formations should resurrect or initiate political education and development institutes to help develop a new crop of leaders – different from howlers and nincompoops like Mbalula and Co. We need new leadership in South Africa. We are responsible for identifying, grooming and developing that leadership. Not praise singers like the leader of the non-existent ANC Youth League, Collen Malatji. DM
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Not only did ANC MPs lie to protect President Zuma, they protected Ramsphosa on the Phala Phala scandal. Mbalula is a loose cannon. As sports minister, he once called the national soccer team, stupidly called Bafana Bafana, a bunch of lovers. Mbalula recently gave minister Gordhan instructions in public and even threatened to recall him.
I support Fikile, his potential as loose cannon is being proven time and time again. Leave him alone till after elections. Shout out Fikile for President.
Mbalula has always been non-thinking loose canon. He has made a lot of very stupid public statements in his time in politics. Like Cele, he promises a lot but delivers very little.
‘Fokol’ comes in close second place to Alfred Nzo.
The author is spot on about the lack of good political leadership in South Africa today: from the parties, to the unions, to various ‘civic organisations’ it seems to be a race to the bottom political sloganeering and populist rubbish. The ANC is beyond repair, with not one intellectual left in any position of influence; the EFF is a luddite elite of champagne socialists, feeding off the pensions of the poor; anything further left is in cloud cuckoo land.
I remember in the late 80s as a student at Wits, how the unions would march through Braamies, with tens of thousands of workers walking down Jorissen or De Korte streets with almost no damage at all to property or cars – disciplined, with strong leadership in contrast to the violence, destruction, murder and complete lack of leadership we see today.
However, my biggest regret is that parties in the centre and to the economic right of this mess cannot find common ground properly. For a country that was able to negotiate the end of apartheid despite seemingly intractable obstacles and having diametrically opposed views, we have a bunch of egos with a relatively similar agenda of getting rid of the ANC and turning the country around, but not able to find a strong common ground to do so. The DA, Rise Mzansi, FF+, Action SA, BOSA etc all have good, strong leaders in their own right, but need to put South Africa first. Sadly, doesn’t seem likely.
“the EFF is a luddite elite of champagne socialists, feeding off the pensions of the poor; anything further left is in cloud cuckoo land.”
They’re already there.
But be very wary of cuckoos!
I was around during some of those big demos and agree that they were a very different kettle of fish to today’s where looting and destruction are never far away. To be fair though, at least some of the reason for that was the fact that the police were around and going beserk would have lead to consequences for the beserkers that no longer exist.
I only recall Nzo sleeping, but relatively speaking that is a much safer state of existence than talking without thinking which Frikkie mastered fully.
Very helpful reminder of ANC history and current needs. To thinking I would add incorruptible and community-spirited
Thinking politicians? Surely an oxymoron when talking about the ANC?
“Fikile Mbalula demonstrates how badly the ANC, and South Africa, need thinking politicians”
Mbalula and the ANC that he ‘manages’ are nothing more than a symptom of a defective electorate. How that isn’t obvious to everyone including the author is a mystery to me. They haven’t elected themselves for the last 30 years after all.
Yup. It’s high time this gets more airtime. How can we blame the elected when the electorate give them a mandate time and again. I also don’t expect the ANC to dip below 50% in the upcoming elections either, why would they? If they do dip below 50% then those votes will most likely go to the EFF. So more of the same or worse.
I would like to suggest that we do not necessarily need “thinking” politicians. The current crop is thinking—it just happens to be restricted to their own narrow self-interests. We would be far better off introducing a system of time-bounded seconded public service for selected people who have the necessary organisational skills and subject matter experience. This approach was followed by President Roosevelt with great success at the outbreak of World War II to put the US economy on a war footing. It is far better to have a competent person who does not want the job but is quite capable of doing it well than a self-serving, power-hungry career politician. How they get compensated for this service is a subject for another discussion. Our country has no shortage of world-class people who, given the right opportunity and resources, could help restore the nation to health and prosperity. When they are done, they can be released to go back to their day jobs.
You are asking the ANC to appoint people who can work? I don’t think they know what that look like.
“Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, is reputed to have said: ‘The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.’ Education, formal or informal, teaches us to develop logic, rationale, reasoning, intellect and knowledge about the world we live in.”
I suspect only thinking voters will vote thinking politicians into power.
I disagree. I think Mr Fix Fokkol is doing a phenomenal job, jeopardising the ANC’s electoral prospects.
Perhaps Mr Razzmatazz as he dubbed himself as Sports Minister should become a Double Agent and work for the ANC as well?
Leave him be. There will be more entertainment as he opens his mouth to change feet!
Mbalula is a clown of epic proportions. So is Bheki Cele. They both spew crap every time they open their mouths. However, there is a clown bigger than both of them combined, Cyril Ramaphosa. How is it possible the the man in charge of the running of our country not only retains these idiots in the ANC government, but places them in critical positions of power? Could it be because they support him and cover his back in things like the Phala Phala scandal?
Mr Fix Fokkol doesn’t occupy any position in government, whether ministerial or otherwise. He’s the ANC’s Secretary General, a position to which he was elected by the ANC’s NEC, not one he was appointed to by Ramaposeur.
Correction: The ANC SG is elected during an elective conference by voting delegates from ANC branches countrywide, not by the NEC.
Mbulula is there as a distraction, the Court jester, the village idiot perhaps, appointed by the Ramaphosa Ministry
While I do not have any major issues with the views of the author … I am intrigued by where he is ‘studying’ … Ben-Gurion university. Does he realise that this is the institution founded by the father of zionist ideology ? Does it allow for any real ‘critical’ thinking … which he is proposing for the ANC ? It is not like it is the colonialist Oxford and Cambridge methinks ! There is a apposite saying “you are judged by the company you keep” to which I would add … and the mud you wallow in. Beware of the claim of new ‘gospel’ speakers.
How does his current educational institution affect an opinion piece that makes no reference whatsoever to the current Israel/Gaza conflict?
It is your type of closed mind reasoning (blinkered like the most US minds) , that prevents any kind of meaningful debate. If you has paid attention , mine was a question. Institutions have an ‘ethos’ which frequently rubs off on those who attend it or informs their world view.
There is no ‘closed mind reasoning’ nor lapping at the toes of US propaganda here. Kindly steer away from insulting considered questions.
I understand that you ‘…do not have any major issues with the views of the author…’, but you query whether he is aware of the institution at which he is studying, the Ben Gurion University. My question is about how his educational institution affects his reasoning when it comes to this opinion piece. At no point in his opinion piece does the issue of the Israel/Gaza conflict come up. You do not critique nor oppose his opinion piece, in fact you “…do not have any major issues with the views of the author”. If it was not reflected that he was a Ben Gurion University student, would that have called you to question his ability to ‘think critically’?
Is there any part of his opinion piece that reflects a rubbing off effect of that ‘ethos’ on his writing here?
Issues with his opinions, well raise those issues as a response. Your issues with Ben Gurion University, put up your own opinion piece.
Not that it is any of your business, but if it interests you I am no friend of the Israelis and I consider their actions, right from the occupation to the present conflagration, abhorrent behaviour. They act with breast-beating nonchalance because they know their American friends will defend them regardless how horrendous their behaviour is.
But then again, I suppose considered critique is not something that you do here…
100%
No-one should be surprised at the lack of intellectual depth in the ANC when one considers that the only people who have ever lionised members of the ANC for their brilliance and insight have been the ANC themselves. Black culture is replete with examples of its members blowing their own trumpets and praising their own achievements as though they were significant when in real terms they were merely substandard, the existence of the “praise-singer” as a valid role in black culture is evidence of this. The ANC in-exile never really achieved anything of importance intellectually, the only reason it achieved dominance in SA was by virtue of the fact F.W. de Klerk handed it South Africa on a platter, certainly not because of its brilliant strategies or even the strategic ability of its military wing. The mettle of the ANC and MK is evidenced by the complete chaos that is government, and by the snivelling cowards that claim to be soldiers in the SANDF respectively. Given how many ANC cadres in national and municipal government have been shown to have falsified their qualifications, one wonders exactly how many of the top brass in the ANC actually have the qualifications they claim to have, a point which gives further credence to the idea that there is a basic lack of intellect in the ANC. Cadres such as Mbalula are not the outliers in terms of a lack of intellect but in all probability the average.