VIDEO: Political analyst sceptical about ANC’s priorities for 2021

“The ANC can’t even fill a pothole or fix a traffic light — how will they ever be able to govern a country?”

This was the reaction of University of the Free State senior political science professor Hussein Solomon, following a statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa last week Friday in celebration of the ANC’s 109th anniversary.

Laying out the party’s plans for the coming year, Ramaphosa focused on four important issues facing South Africa.

These were the fight against Covid-19, strengthening the economy, building a new world and Africa, and the renewal of the ANC.
Ramaphosa said these issues will be the ANC’s top priority in 2021.

Solomon was, however, sceptical.

He believed not much will change this year.

“The party cannot deliver on its promises because factionalism is rife. The ANC is deeply divided.”

Solomon says proof of this was the ANC’s handling of the court case against its secretary-general, Ace Magashule.

Magashule appeared before the party’s integrity commission in line with a promise by Ramaphosa that all party members involved in corruption should step down.

Magashule, however, remains in office.

Former president Jacob Zuma’s defiance of the Zondo commission is, according to Solomon, further proof of his argument that the ANC will never change.

According to Solomon, it should have been clear right at the beginning when Ramaphosa took over the leadership of the party.

“Everyone back then had Ramaphoria, but they forgot that Ramaphosa was deputy president of the ANC while corruption and poor governance was part of how the ANC do things,” Solomon said.