THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 09 2010 19:31 | LAST UPDATED Feb 09 2010 19:31

ADVERTISE WITH US | CONTACT US | STORY TIP-OFFS | M&G NEWSLETTER

Opinion \| Editorials

A legacy under threat

Jul 18 2008 06:00

6 comments | Post your comment

Mandela is 90. But the sweet celebration of a life of leadership, service and generosity is mixed with the sour taste of a legacy being polluted in front of the old man's tired eyes.

Make no mistake, Nelson Mandela's legacy is under threat.

We are in trouble when someone as sober and steeped in the traditions of the ANC as Raymond Suttner can say of the party's Polokwane election battle: "It was a battle for loot, between those who sought to benefit from continued Mbeki rule and those who had been ditched by Mbeki or sought to benefit from a Zuma presidency." However, we have more worries than the development of a class of vampire politicians, characterised by bee-ems, bling and blue lights.

The problem with the ANC under Thabo Mbeki was that it granted him too much power. Mbeki became the embodiment of the ANC, and the ANC the self-anointed landlord of the state. So, when Mandela criticised policy on HIV/Aids, Peter Mokaba, the Julius Malema of his day, was wheeled out to denigrate him -- and the party faithful were silent. And when Jeremy Cronin bemoaned the Zanufication of the ANC, he was forced to apologise -- and the party faithful were silent.

But, in truth, the Zanufication of the ANC has accelerated, rather than slowed, since Mbeki's defeat at Polokwane. The insistence by Luthuli House that all organs of state must bow to party discipline is a continuation of Mbeki's own programme of hegemony, under a new leadership.

The conflation of party, state and leader -- the genesis of totalitarianism -- continues ever more harshly in the mantra that an attempt to put Jacob Zuma on trial is an attack on the ANC, and that an attack on the ANC must be resisted at all costs, with force if necessary, including by tearing down the carefully built state institutions that are intended to limit the exercise of power. At the apex of those institutions is the Constitutional Court.

To claim that comments by its secretary general were not an attack on the independence of the judiciary is simply disingenuous. Gwede Mantashe accused the court of being part of a "siege" being laid to the movement. This because the court had dared to respond publicly to what it perceived as an unprecedented attack on the integrity of its own decision-making process in the Zuma matter. As one commentator has pointed out, the legitimacy of the courts has long been fragile and a substantial constituency within the ANC has never accommodated itself to constitutional democracy. The difference now is that that constituency is in the ascendant.

How else are we to understand the threat to "kill for Zuma" to "eliminate" the counter-revolutionaries; how else are we to understand the sustained and coordinated attack on the Constitutional Court? It speaks of a leadership straining to escape the institutional restraints of democracy. Again, that process began under Mbeki, who specialised in producing the veneer of institutional independence, but getting what he wanted through back-room manoeuvres and bullying.

The ANC under Zuma does not have the time or the clout (yet) for such methods. Zuma has a few more legal stratagems left before he has to face his corruption charges, but they are growing more desperate and less convincing. It is worth recalling that Mandela willingly subjected himself to the judgement of the courts when he was taken on by Louis Luyt, surely one of the most odious symbols of those who profited both from apartheid and from post-apartheid opportunism.

CONTINUES BELOW

It is easy to see why Zuma cannot take the same route. Unlike Mandela, he risks being crushed by the process. What the ANC has failed to explain is why Zuma is so important that he must be protected at all costs? We are seeing a concerted attempt to bully the courts into producing the desired outcome. Perhaps the answer is that those who seek to break through the limitations on the ANC's power are using Zuma to batter them down in the same way they used him to oust Mbeki.

So, is Mandela also "yesterday's hero" for those, like Zwelinzima Vavi, for whom the Constitution and its institutions seem just a stepping stone to some mythical revolution?

As commentators have pointed out, where Mandela united, Mbeki has divided. His willingness to forgive and be reconciled with his former persecutors in the interests of South Africa is in sharp contrast with the "politics of total take-over" that has gripped the ruling party. The skills, commitment and track record of officials and politicians no longer seems to count for anything. The new ANC appears to have adopted the same approach of power politics rather than moral authority.

Both factions have misunderstood Mandela's inclusiveness.

It was not based on sentiment. It was based on a sober assessment of the reality of South Africa's monumental divisions and inequalities, but which factored in and fostered the human capacity for solidarity and the virtuous effects of building a common sense of nationhood.

Mandela's birthday should not only serve as a celebration of Madiba, it should become a rallying point to bring together South Africans to defend what he achieved, what he stands for.

Mandela can't come to our rescue any more. But his example can.

TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE

People

Organisations

African National Congress

Comments

Mandela said he was prepared to die for democracy. The new comrades talk of killing for a leader.

Brent Meersman on July 18, 2008, 8:17 am

We truly need to understand the meaning of "A Legacy under threat". What Legacy are we really on about??? Mandela manged to unite South Africans with the hope of making a conducive environment for us to redress all inequalities of the past. He managed to get the White SA and the Black SA to begin talks of land redestribution, economic reforms etc. Now it is shocking to hear people speaking of a preservation of a Legacy...what legacy, is it okay for black people to be landless as was the case back then? Is it okay for the +-5% minority to own +-85% of our economy?

Let us all be sober into tackilng this issue

Nkosinathi Gcina on July 18, 2008, 10:07 am

It is true that there are infightings in the ANC which are damning to the image of the country and the legacy of Madiba but i am convinced that his legacy will outlive him.No matter what happens in South Africa after he has left us but his influence and his belief on a democractic SA that belongs to all who live in it irrespective of race will surely outlive him.

His achievement are too good to be destroyed by hotheaded's like Zuma and Vavi.

Lucas Thatelo on July 18, 2008, 10:46 am

That is so true, we need to look at Mandela's example! Unfortunately our so called leaders are not willing to look back and even compare. They are busy destroying and craeting their own legacies, based on dividing the nation. I dont know where this country is going!

Thandeka Mapi on July 18, 2008, 7:37 pm

Mr Mandela: I wish you well, and a happy 90th birthday! You have been a great man! You have taught millions how to be humble in the face of adversity. How to conduct oneself on the 'world's stage'. I hope you will feel as happy, everyday, as you did when the World Cup in 1995 was right there with you!

It is sad however that people see you as having left us with a 'legacy', the likes of Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, as your successors. But it was not ou, it was the collective decision of ANC executive council members!

Now, you must draw closer to God!

That is my wish for you!

Voila!

Pierre Hough on July 19, 2008, 4:54 pm

The lagacy was a dream shared by the majority of the people who had a vote prior to 94. We overwhelmingly voted to give all a vote and for the correction of past wrongs. What we did not vote for was apartheid reversed. We have enough experience to help, but is denied the opportunity. We dreamt to -together-address the wrongs of the past, not to replace the role-players that do wrong, as what is happening now. The role players of today have not taken the "dream" forward, but instead they have claimed it as their exclusive right to steal, rob and plunder this countrys resources. To say "they have done it then, so to do it now is ok", is wrong. Change these powerhungry hyenas before you become prey yourselves.

Hein Huyser on July 23, 2008, 8:49 am

You must be logged in to comment. Log in or sign up to comment

click here to log in

M&G Online Comment Guidelines In Brief

No hate speech;
No racist, sexist or homophobic remarks;
Keep it short;
Keep it on topic;
Show respect to all;
We reserve the right to remove or delete any comment without notice or reason.

Click here for the full Comment Guidelines

Advertising Links

Click hereÖ

Your M&G Online

Follow the Mail & Guardian on Twitter!

Direct message us on our mailandguardian account to chat to the M&G Online team.


		THIS WEEK'S PAPER Subscribe Subs promotions Get digital edition

Advertising links

OUDE MEESTER INSURANCE JUNCTION PROPERTY FOR SALE INTERNET SOLUTIONS COMPAQ LAPTOPS	MAP SEARCH HOLIDAY FINDER BID OR BUY INSURANCE YOU CAN TRUST