RE-INVENTING GOVERNMENT THROUGH A REFERENDUM ON PROVINCES
We in the Azanian People's Organization (AZAPO) always maintained that South Africa/Azania is a unitary state. This would explain why AZAPO is opposed to the balkanization of Azania into quasi-federal states previously known as Bantustans now Provinces. Since entering parliamentary politics in 1999, AZAPO consistently called for the abolishment of provinces as currently constituted. In practical terms this means Chapter 6 institutions enshrined in the liberal SA Constitution should be scrapped.
Following debates of his SONA, President Zuma challenged all those who call for provinces to be abolished to make a convincing argument and provide sound reasons why provinces should be scrapped. AZAPO finds the President's "challenge" problematic considering that when the agreement on provinces was concluded, no convincing argument was put forward to the nation.
Instead the ruling ANC appeased the then Nationalist Party, Afrikaner right-wingers, white liberals in general and other federalists at the World Trade Centre talks. So far provinces have proved to promote regionalism, tribalism, ethnicity and economic inequality. For instance provinces such as Gauteng and the Western Cape are economically prosperous compared to rural ones such as Limpopo, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape which remain impoverished. It is this economic divide and neglect for rural development that force the poor black people to leave their rural homes and move to urban areas.
This pattern is no different to that of the apartheid years, which induced labour migrations. Needles to mention consequences were and are still dire for black people - i.e. landlessness, unemployment, unstable families and lack of adequate amenities. The picture above makes for a compelling case for President Zuma and his government to act and abolish provinces.
The situation in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and Limpopo provinces where section 100 of the constitution was invoked has shown that central government intervention is not the answer. Equally in municipalities where section 139 was invoked not much has changed either. The problem is therefore systemic.
Instead of papering over the cracks we should admit that problems in governance and administration are brought about by duplication of functions of central government at provincial level, a waste of financial resources and under-utilization of skilled personnel. With provinces abolished money saved and skilled personnel will all be directed towards local government where there is dire need.
Is it not about time government tests views of citizens on a critical issue such as abolishing provinces? Is this not the opportune time for a Referendum? Citizens in this country expect a democratic government to do better than former President FW de Klerk's erstwhile racist apartheid government, which called for awhites-only referendum on 17th March 1992.
It is from this referendum that the now defunct Nationalist Party got a mandate from whites to negotiate reforms in SA. When then will the people govern in President Zuma's government? AZAPO is of the view that South Africans should be part of decision-making. A referendum on abolishing provinces is therefore not an unreasonable expectation. It could just be the way to go in re-inventing government!
Statement issued by Gaontebale Nodoba, AZAPO National Spokesperson, February 29 2012
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
