The African National Congress (ANC) has hit a new low, with its secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, at the forefront of the party's downfall. A comparison of photographs from the ANC's 1990 Groote Schuur talks and a current image of Mbalula starkly illustrates the party's decline. The once-revered brand has become the butt of jokes, with South Africans often laughing at the ANC and its leaders to cope with their frustration. The party's ineptitude is evident in its handling of the registration of candidates for the 4 November local government elections.
The ANC's failure to register candidates on time was a mess that can be laid squarely at Mbalula's door. Despite being one of the few parties to have contested every election since 1994, the ANC managed to botch a simple task. The party's response to the debacle was to blame the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and take the matter to court, a battle it was never going to win. President Cyril Ramaphosa foolishly echoed Mbalula's assertions, further highlighting the party's incompetence.
The ANC's court battle ended in defeat, with the party now planning to appeal the judgment. In a statement, the ANC called on its members, leaders, and supporters to remain calm and disciplined, and to refrain from public commentary that could prejudice the ongoing legal process. However, this call for calm was seen as nonsensical, given the party's history of reacting aggressively to criticism.
A brawl between Mbalula and NEC member Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has further exposed the party's internal conflicts. Dlamini Zuma has claimed that Mbalula paid money to delegates at the 2022 ANC national conference to secure his and Ramaphosa's election to the party's top jobs. She has secured an affidavit from a recipient of the dosh, who is willing to testify in court.
The ANC's problems run deeper than Mbalula's stupidity, with corruption, incompetence, arrogance, and a sense of impunity plaguing the party. The issue is that Mbalula's ineptitude is emblematic of the organisation's descent into ignominy. The party's corruption is done stupidly, its arrogance shows through in foolish ways, and its impunity is carried out with disregard for the people.
The ANC's plunge into ignominy has real implications for South Africans, with the party still set to play an influential role in the lives of the people despite its decline. The party's performance in the forthcoming elections will be closely watched, with many expecting it to be hit hard. However, the ANC's continued influence means that its problems will continue to have a significant impact on the country.
Ultimately, the ANC needs to take its political task more seriously and stop seeing itself as an entertainment channel. The party's antics may be laughable, but they have serious consequences for the people of South Africa. As the party prepares for the local government elections, it must confront its internal problems and work to regain the trust of the people.
Key points
- The ANC's ineptitude and corruption are on full display as the party faces the local government elections.
- Fikile Mbalula's stupidity is emblematic of the ANC's downfall and decline into ignominy.
- The ANC's problems run deeper than Mbalula's ineptitude, with corruption, incompetence, and arrogance plaguing the party.
