Fractured ANC: The ANC's divisions are hampering service delivery

The ANC is fractured, divided and at war with itself. The result is that it cannot govern. If it cannot govern, it cannot deliver, and the people it claims to represent suffer the consequences of its self-interested infighting.

The latest example is the ugly public spat between National Planning Minister, Trevor Manuel and Cabinet Spokesperson, Jimmy Manyi. But, if one casts the net a little wider, the range of disputes and disagreements in the governing party is far more widespread. This infighting has manifested in three forms: internal political disputes; contested policy and divided public institutions.

As for the organisation itself, it has come to resemble a pack of wolves fighting over a kill:

We have witnessed Trevor Manuel fighting Jimmy Manyi and ANC Secretary-General, Gwede Mantashe rebuking Manuel in turn. We have seen Manuel sparring with his fellow Presidency Minister, Collins Chabane over economic policy - indeed, the entire ANC seems constantly to be at odds with itself over how South Africa's economy should be structured.

Then there are the remnants of the Mbeki / Zuma Polokwane battle: every province in the country is divided or factionalised, to the extent that the North West now has a faction known as ‘The Taliban'. As for the ANC in the Western Cape, it remains unclear who is really in charge down there. It does not seem to be Provincial Chairman, Marius Fransman. Is it his nemesis, Mcebisi Skwatsha? His predecessor, Lynne Brown? Or Cosatu Provincial Secretary, Tony Ehrenreich? It is never clear from one day to the next.

Even the Youth League of the ANC is constantly at war with all and sundry - including itself: From the Guptas, to the MK Veterans, to President Jacob Zuma, and various government Ministers. The list goes on and on.

At a policy decision-making level, the fighting has manifested in a number of areas:

Between Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan and Cosatu, the battle is over whether South Africa is a socialist state or one with a more centrist economic policy.

On the proposed Media Appeals Tribunal: Is the ANC for it, or against it? And what about Cosatu and Zwelinzima Vavi? The trade union federation does not seem overly enamoured of the idea.

On the nationalisation of mines: it is almost impossible to get any clarity on what the desired outcome is. The ANC Youth League is never absolutely shut down or rebuked for repeatedly speaking in favour of the policy; rather, its ideas are entertained. At the same time, the government ‘distances' itself from the Youth League's proposals, in an unconvincing fashion.

The infighting has infected our public institutions too - all of which are supposed to be completely independent from political influence:

The SAPS ‘raids' the Public Protector's office; the SABC board seems unable to remain intact for longer than six months; the Scorpions were shut down to prevent the unit from continuing corruption investigations into senior ANC-linked public figures, and the National Prosecuting Authority has been used and abused in a most appalling way.

This all makes for sorry reading, and the effect of these battles is simple and palpable in the lives of South Africa's citizens: service delivery fails.

A government can not function if it is at war with itself. The fighting makes it impossible to focus on outcomes; and outcomes are what a government is elected to produce.

So, the South African public faces a choice: do the people want a government so obsessed with its own interests and internal discord that it spends most of its time fighting itself, or do they want a government that cares about their concerns and needs, and has the focus and unity of purpose to address them?

If it is the latter, then the DA's track record in government in municipalities across the country speaks for itself. The City of Cape Town is the best run Metro in the country and, given the chance, we can deliver that level of service to any municipality in the country.

The time for South Africa to decide is now.

Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko MP, DA National Spokesperson, March 13 2011

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