The ANC remains a party of choice for the majority of people of this country.
People still have confidence in the oldest party in the land and its policies.
They still believe it will take them to the Promised Land.
The governing party has been in power for more than 20 years – 22 years to be exact. It also stands a good chance of extending its rule (but with a slight majority) to 30 years or more in the next elections. And it is very much aware of that.
But the governing party is at its weakest at the moment. It is weak leadership-wise, organisationally and otherwise. It is not weak because the opposition is strong but because it is self destructing. And there is no third force involved.
Jacob Zuma’s party is not performing poorly in terms of service delivery because it’s incapable or incompetent. No, the party has capable and competent members. It’s performing poorly because it has forgotten the reason why it’s in power.
The other reason is that the ANC is not using its resourceful members to the benefit of the party and country. Instead, it has sidelined its intellectuals and competent members. As a result, the governing party is not operating at its fullest potential.
People’s struggle for economic liberation is no longer the centre and focus of the party. It’s just paying lip service to the economic emancipation of the poor. The struggle is about power, state resources, tenders and money for its members.
Another challenge is that the party spends its precious time and energy defending president Zuma. The Nkandla saga is a typical example. This challenge is also dividing the party. But it seems the Nkandla issue, which has dominated news for two years or so, is coming to its finality.
In essence, whilst the masses still believe in the governing party, the ANC is in a state of decline. And there is no external force to blame for that but the party itself. It has allowed power to consume it or to go to its head.
Is there hope that the governing party can stop the decline and reclaim its glory days? Though it won’t be easy to do that, it all depends on the party itself. But it will take a strong and visionary leadership to do that.
