ANC should rather follow it's lead in Cape Town: Response to Douglas Gibson
In an article dated 2 June 2016, Douglas Gibson asked several questions however the main question asked is “Would a losing ANC bow out gracefully?”. Though the question is purporting to be out of genuine concern from former leader of DA, the essentiality of it is intended to rehash DA narrative that project itself as a government in waiting in various strategic municipalities.
The question from Mr Gibson is triggered by the recent survey conducted by IPSOS which paints a very bleak picture of the performance of ANC in upcoming local government. The question is premised on the survey which reflects the ANC as a losing organisation whilst the real survey is on 3rdAugust 2016, even ENCA could not resist the temptation as it ran IPSOS survey as if it was official election results announced by IEC.
Mr Gibson is asking whether the ANC will follow the path of Britain Prime Minister David Cameron and accept the outcome graciously or alternatively imitate communities of Vuwani by burning schools and public property to impose itself against the will of the people. Well I wish to encourage him to look no further than home to find answers.
The ANC accepted and respected the will of the people in 2004 when it welcomed the democratic processes as guided by The Constitution of South Africa Act 108 of 1996 when it confirmed DA led coalition as government in City of Cape Town, it also respected the will of the people in Overstrand, West Coast as well as Midvaal Municipalities. There was neither violence nor instabilities which sort to render these municipalities ungovernable instead the ANC welcomed its role as official opposition with warm heart.
Its appreciation goes beyond these few examples as there are many wards where the ANC has lost its traditional strongholds but accepted the outcome without incidents of violence. Mr Gibson should be singing praises for ANC and its iron discipline when it comes to matters of the constitution, he should be encouraging ANC to follow its example in Cape Town. In fact Prime Minister of Britain can learn a thing or two about the strength of our fairly new democracy under the ANC government.
The ruling party subscribe to Freedom Charter which boldly declares “that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people”. Hence it is on record condemning violence and thuggery manifested during the protests of both communities of Vuwani and Tshwane.
It has even called on our security forces to work tirelessly with the intention to swiftly arrest those that were going beyond the limits of the law to express their frustrations, it also made it conspicuously clear that the police should act irrespective of individual’s political affiliation.
The ANC is also conducting internal investigations relating to Tshwane matter and one component of the ANC led alliance has also went to an extend of suspending those it believed might have participated in fanning the fires of destruction.
However it should be stated that there is no way in which the scale of violence as seen in many instances can be attributed only to Member of ANC as Mr Gibson would like us to believe, he relies too much on gossip and rumours that he fails to check the scale of violence against the Membership of the ANC and this simple test would have assisted him to see through these violence and its perpetrators.
The South African Constitution and its citizens are a bulwark of our democracy, our people despise anything that is not based on the will of the people, they are also prepared to shed a blood against any party that would attempt to undermine democracy. The people have proven on several occasions that they have capacity to defend their democracy.
The people are armed with laws of our country which were crafted to defend the ordinary people against any tendency seeking to fan anarchy because the election results do not suet their interests. It does not matter if the anarchy will come from opposition or security agencies our people will defend our democracy at all costs.
To this very same day both ANC as a party and government have adhered to myriad of uncomforting judgements and this is a demonstration of our deepening democracy which is maturing under the responsible leadership of ANC. We have not seeing signs of propensity to attempt undermine the democratic program of our country from the ruling party. The ANC has and continues to be torch bearer of defenders of the constitution, it is the ANC led government that has followed democratic and legal avenues provided for in our constitution get guidance from our courts.
If there is any thread to the unity of the state and our democracy, that will come from some opposition parties that are on record casting aspersions on the IEC as a credible institution. It is EFF led by DA who have tarnished the image of IEC as it was reported by NEWS24 on 26 April 2016 through Athol Trollip, yet they are willing to participate in these elections.
Mr Gibson your question should also be directed to opposition so that they are also encouraged to reflect on their own utterances which are clearly meant to ignite violence and lawlessness beyond 3rd August 2016. Hence I believe the ANC should rather follow its lead as set in 2004 local government elections, should your dream of its electoral defeat come to reality.
Chabana Chabana is an Activist based in Free State
