By Nqobizitha Mlilo
South African politics is interesting and captivating. We are certainly lucky to be living in these interesting times.
A few weeks ago Joel Netshitenzhe resigned from government years before the end of his contract.
A long time friend I was with in law school immediately wrote to me to say; “that’s a big blow; this man was one of the finest brains in the African National Congress (ANC) and government!”
I could not agree more that Joel Netshitenzhe is a brilliant man, and a man full of composure. His soft spoken voice betrays his intellect, same which made him an integral part of the ANC, and ANC led alliance for a long time.
I had the benefit and privilege, during my days in the progressive student movement, of being an attentive student in political schools he offered, explanations of the then government policy, as well as go through tones and tones of literature he wrote on a number of theoretical issues, not least what the ANC and Mass Democratic Movements (MDM) call the National Democratic Revolution (NDR).
However, despite and inspite of his intellect-which is not contested, his resignation cannot be seen as some politically neutral phenomenon which is just natural personal progression. It is Polokwane!
Professor Ben Turok has just written a book aptly titled “From the Freedom Charter to Polokwane; The Evolution of ANC Economic Policy.” Perhaps more accurately, Professor Ben Turok could have titled his book, ‘From the African Claims in South Africa, to the Freedom Charter to Polokwane; The Evolution of ANC Economic Policy” for the grounding of ANC economic thinking starts to take shape from the 16 December 1943 document of the ANC, African Claims in South Africa.
Be that as it may, it is a good and must read book which traces the economic policies of the ANC and the liberation movements aliened to the ANC.
After an extensive analysis Professor Ben Turok correctly concludes that the “… ousting of a substantial segment of the national leadership…” of the ANC at Polokwane was because of their “… failure to pursue the economic transformation promised in the Freedom Charter (and I could add, promised in the African Claims in South Africa) and the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP).” Agreed!
It is not clear whether the ‘winners’ at Polokwane have fully understood what happened there. Or rather, it is too early to really have a grasp of the real meaning of Polokwane. The left of the ANC is certainly back in the political laboratory to have full comprehension of that historical congress.
However obfuscating and ambivalent Polokwane may seem, one thing is clear; there is clarity of intention; things have to change, in particular, the responsiveness of the state and the economy to the needs and aspirations of the poor and working class who have been marginalized for the last 15 years.
Joel Netshitenzhe was and remains a disciplined member of the ANC. However, he was part of a centre core of a particular way of doing things under the leadership of former President Thabo Mbeki. He was part of an integral core that perused an economic trajectory which was rejected at Polokwane, and by extension, rejected by the new administration. In the final analysis, he might be a brilliant intellectual, but perhaps his intellect would not osmosis well and comfortably with the emergent economic trajectory which is now at the center and taking root at the new administration’s decision making process.
Notwithstanding is intellect, this is also part of the reason why there is some mumbling about Minister Trevor Manuel, more so, in the position he is in, which almost makes him a ‘Prime Minister.’
The battle is an economic trajectory battle and it will have its casualties. 19th Century historian Henry Adams wrote that “a good President resembles a Commander of a ship at the sea. He must have a helm to gasp, course to steer, a port to seek.”
To this, Helen Thomas and Craig Crawfold authors of Listen Up, Mr. President: Everything You Always Wanted Your President to Know and Do have added, “the port you seek, Mr. President, is your vision, those that take it lightly do so at their own peril.” President Zuma and his administration have taken their port, and ‘those that take it lightly do so at their own peril.’
South Africa’s struggle against apartheid was through the working class and the poor as the main drivers. That 15 years into a new dispensation, the fruits of freedom are not sufficiently low hanging and reachable to them is a cause of consternation.
But we must learn. South Africa’s ‘democratic break through’ was a negotiated settlement. South Africa, must teach, the people of Madagascar, Kenyans, Zimbabweans, and even Latin America’s Honduras, that negotiated settlements are inherently anti-poor and are unable to fundamentally and sustainably change the political economy for the benefit of the poor and working class.
They do not in the short or long term serve the real interests of the poor tramped and condemned to dehumanizing poverty, but are vehicles of the vacillating middle class and also domestic and international capital to adapt to the new environment with the final result being their continued dominance over a fundamentally weak state.
The state is in control, in real terms, of nothing but the new flag. A façade of success is projected, the lethargy of the state camouflaged with release of statistics that are prima facie impressive, but do not, in adequate terms, mean an extra plate, extra water, extra school, extra electricity and extra health for the poor and in fact are incomprehensible to the poor.
Polokwane understood this. Its time things changed.
Change of economic trajectory requires new personnel. The new personnel should be intellectually and practically comfortable with both the theory and practicalisation of the new narrative of the transformative Developmental State which is being expounded by President Zuma’s administration.
The departure of the otherwise intellectually sound Joel Netshitenzhe must therefore be viewed in that light. There is no time to quibble and squabble on semantics or real disagreements, the trajectory has to be hegemonised and made the gospel of all state apparatus so that same can begin to deliver. There is a new administration in town and that is the only game available; its either one plays or steps aside.
Floyd Shivambu, now spokesperson of the Afican National Congress Youth League (ANC YL), in expressing his disagreement with the trajectory of the macro-economic policy, Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) once wrote; “should we giya (a Tsonga or Shangaan word for dance in celebration) for GEAR?”
Perhaps now Floyld should answer whether South Africans should giya for Polokwane. Are the drums of Polokwane still beating rhythmically enough and South Africans giya (dance in celebration) under President Zuma’s post Polokwane?
As with a beautiful women, unsure but opening up to the persuasion of a prospective boy friend would say- “only time will tell whether you will be accepted. Show and prove to me you are serious.” South African have opened up to being persuaded and will watch to see if the new administration can show and prove they are serious!
Helen Thomas and Craig Crawford advice United States President, Barak Obama, “Now it’s time to fill in the blanks, Mr. President;” So too is the advice to President Zuma.
