ANC's civil war with the left hots up

MG, I eco the sentiments passed the honorable Jordan. this is an old hat for some us that are familiar with how tripartite alliance operates, or maybe sound like a war in eyes of MG and some naïve people who sells newspaper by sensationalizing everything for sake of newspaper sales, hence RECESSION. Rather teach/ inform us how to get of recession and how we can improve education and social cohession and inequalities in our society

This is absolutely a baseless publication, its a well know fact that policy is debated, there is no where in the world where a policy is not debated. This result to strengthening the ideas other than implementing something no contested. I appreciate those arguments, it has nothing to do with factionalism, I have been developing policies where I work for more than ten yrs, and out of all these yrs no single policy was not strongly debated, therefore did that mean those policies were cracking those organisations, shame on the media who are desperate to destroy the ANC

This is not a civil war, it is a difference in opinion. Why jump at each and every opportunity to discredit the tripartite alliance even if it is not news worthy. Please give us a break.

For one to think that Masethla's comments were his only views, is fooling him/herself. The fact of the matter is that Masethla and other members of the ANC NEC and other influential members within the organization, have discussed the matter in length and they've drawn that inference based on scientific knowledge and facts. The time bomb is ticking and some members within the alliance are still suffering from denialism where as, even a blind man can see that there are tensions in the organization. Zuma has spoken and I am convinced that in the next NEC summit the divisions will be more visible. Zuma doesn't owe anybody except south africans who voted him to power.

Pressure on the ANC from the left is now in the streets. All the service delivery protests are instigated by the SACP-Cosatu alliance to replace legitimately elected ANC councillors (incompetant) with their own (equally incompetant) but illigitimate and unelected cadres.

I luv this Circus. The reason why the SACP and Cosatu supported Zuma is because he himself is a communist and has the same vision as them.

The ANC chickens are coming home to roost.

Aha! Another revelation by the so-called "The Smart News Source" that the alliance is headed for collision. It would be naive and immature to assume that we have suddenly forgotten that this very source is the one that has recently been proven to be the mouth-piece of the now defunct DSO. We are also aware that the proclivities of this source are towards anything anti-ANC. I can't wait to see your next move MG.

"But ANC NEC member and Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale said that all alliance partners should understand that Cabinet ministers were ANC members and that they were not appointed because they belonged to Cosatu or the SACP."

To the best of my knowledge, Blade Nzimande is still General Secretary of the SACP. He is a cabinet minister too.

MG - rather flippant and sensationalist use of the term "civil war"!

The fact is the left has made significant gains more than ever before hence the so called "moderates" are suffocating. Jordan plays it down because it seems as the only way to deal with it - the moderates have lost the plot. Given the current set-up what Cosatu/SACP want they will get it. Surely no one expects Gwede, the ANC SG / SACP Chair to stop it. The left can even afford to criticise the Govt as SACP SG not Hire Education minister; as YCL SG not an MP. There is just no political will and/or muscle to stop that. Just maybe Malema & Mbalula could be the last hope. It would be interesting to see if the moderates will miss Mbeki so early after his departure.

Is clear that Mbeki was taken out,that could happen to Zuma if he does not follow what Cosatu and SACP want.In this age and time socialism is not the answer for this country.What we need is capable people in management jobs and people in the government doing their jobs and not taking as much as they can and getting fancy cars while the people that put them in power are without jobs and getting poorer.

I am happy this is happening, the difference in opinions will test the allience relationship and eventually making it stronger. This is not the banana republic,COSATU & SACP have a right to differ with the ruling party. I am not on the lefties side, but i must say i have to agree with the opinions of the lefts this time, nationalisation is one of the serious issues to be discussed and as an allience we need intellectuals, economists to guide us on this, i say this because we one of the countries owning less in major industries, like mining and many more. Example is Sasol, Platinum mines and Banks, the state only owns some few shares compared to the 100% shareholding, and thats through IDC & PIC.
I ma praying that on the coming allience conference, this issues be discussed in a healthy way because it will bring ownership back to the state. And the lefts should stop personalising this debate.

@ Duncan Mcgregor

Blade is also a member of the ANC NEC. And it is on that basis that he is serving in Cabinet. That's what Cassell is saying.

it is definately not a crisis of propelling propotions but rather wiseman in diffeent foothpaths who will eventually join at the end of the road.we cannot anticipate the outcome based on loyalty or support shown in polokwane. the ANC will and has to mantain its identity. whether the alliance is in agreement or not the ANC as a party is in goverment patronage politics should not be used to blind us from taking the interest of the country foward we are indebted to transforming the lives our people the more we are unconditionally committed towards this course, the more we will strenghten and seriously roll our sleeves to advance our mandate of putting people first.

People please read and understand the alliance member of Cosatu are members of the SACP and are members of the ANC - Yes there are members of the ANC who are not members of the SACP and COSATU but the allince is not for membership as it is ideological - sharing the interest and aspirations of the marginalized mostly driven by SACP and COSATU and supported by the ANC. Billy's statement is absurd as from whre i stand he does not know who he represents. He has to go back to the political shool he needs refresher causes - there is no direct distinction in the allince rather that only ideological - ideological differences lead to sterner debating of issues and altimately agreements are reached regardless of party affiliation but for the interest of the country and its citizens. Those who purpot the notion of who taking who over need to be schooled - Billy semms disgruntled perhaps he belong to Cope and he is driving their agenda clandastinely.

"To the best of my knowledge, Blade Nzimande is still General Secretary of the SACP. He is a cabinet minister too." Duncan McGregor on October 16, 2009, 9:14 am
------------------------------
I hope Ngoako Modiba & Mikhael Gorbachev R marking yo stytment!
Denial will not help yu folks, not this tym , not ever!
Yu need to come to reality & face up the shadow side of the ANC & it's alliance parties.
These parties influence ANC, whether yu lyk it o not ("The reason why the SACP and Cosatu supported Zuma is because he himself is a communist and has the same vision as them." Erick Mulaudzi on October 16, 2009, 8:55 am ).

Another ANC frog Baby is gona B born.This time it's gona Be cold.....
African National Crazines!

Yes!

President Zuma is right in the middle of the all this and is being forced choose sides. If either side of the Alliance divide does not get its way, it will push for someone else in the 2012 national conference. Cdre Vavi has already made his move; the question is what would the "moderates" or is it the 'nationalists" do apart from squealing? Using the analogy of a bus as Mathale does, COSATU and its assistant driver, SACP, are firmly in the driving and inspector seats; they locked the doors and shut the windows. This bus is heading towards a socialist order unless some brave or is it stupid “nationalist” wrest the controls from COSATU and SACP (tongue in cheek)

Its only here in SA where there is this kind of alliance, of which to me it has reached its sell by date. It was good then not now, things have changed, we talk demmocracy something that you'll never hear of in a socialist/communist state. Now is the time for the ANC to stand up on its own feet, not on three legs like a pot. That is for the benefit of all parties. COSATU can stand up also be on their with out the SACP too, and preach their own gospel on their pulpit the same goes for the SACP, of changing the economic policies. Once again the ANC must do away with this dual membership, to minimise the number of problems.

Eish, but history has shown us how socialism has failed in many first world countries ... I won't mention names!

I want to say to the journalists who compiled this to get informed.MATUMA LETSOALO, MMANALEDI MATABOGE AND MANDY ROSSOUW please guys be journalist - do research - get verified info - you know guys you are supposed to educate but you misinform - perhaps you bought into Billy utterances but Billy is loosing the plot - his utterances are the same like those of COPE founders and misinformed.Before JZ was elected President where did the nominations start - at the branches to provincial and Polokwane - the people who elected Bily to the NEC are from the branches and members of COSATU and SACP under the banner of the ANC - that is why i would like to say to Bily go back to your branch and find out who are your comrades - Bily you have become to aloof and lost touch with the ground - please introspect 'cause i can tell you if you don't change it's gona hurt really bad bro

It would be too simplistic, as your article has done, to confine the tensions within the ‘tripartite Alliance’ to an ideological dispute between the ‘left’ wanting to advance a ‘Socialist’ agenda and the ‘right.’ Moreover, this supposed ‘socialist’ agenda has not even been clarified. This is important, particularly considering the varying understandings on what ‘Socialism’ or being on the ‘left’ really entails. From our experience, it would be ideal to contextualize the ‘divisions’ in the ANC within the context of the bourgeoisification of the oldest former liberation movement in Africa. While some may claim a ‘working class’ ideological orientation in their rhetoric, this is contradicted by their ‘walk.’ Ultimately, the plight of the proletariat is opportunistically, and in a very populist manner, used for personal gains. Finally, for any person wanting to find out what ‘Socialism’ and ‘Communism’ are all about, and how to advance towards such a society, I suggest they get it directly from Karl Marx and the likes of Lenin. The ‘Communist Manifesto’ will be an ideal start.Perhaps, follow this up with Lenin's 'The state and Revolution.' I doubt if many in the SACP and Cosatu have even read the documents.If they have, they would be aware of the inherently 'anti state' nature of the ideology they purport to uphold. They seem to confuse ‘social democracy’ which argues for increased state intervention in development programmes and the regulation of markets with ‘Socialism’ which is a transitional society where the means of production, distribution and exchange are owed by a government of the workers, referred to in Marxist terms as ‘the dictatorship of the Proletariat’, necessary, for the advancement to a fully fledged equal, stateless ‘communist’ state. whether this is possible, is another debate altogether. But Cosatu and the SACP appear to be quasi socialist and quasi Communist.

SENSATIONALISM at its PEAK!! A difference in ideology/approach/policy/opinion does not mean a civil war!! This is a disagreement which was inevitable. It's only natural that certain parties in an alliance will try hard o push their agenda but they will do so within the legal, political workframe of the agreement!!

I guess disagreements and freedom of expression within the Alliance is a peculiar thing to other parties, where one person determines the steps the parties will take and never leave room for debate/disagreements within their own movement!! DICTATORSHIPS!! the ANC is democratic and engages in debate from all 4 corners of this movement.

"Goneunder"

Blade is an ANC member and that qualifies him to be appointed to any position by the party.

Its so interesting that most of the so called analysts in this forum are COPE members, busy analysing issues of the ANC, as if they sit in those conferences, and they can tell you more than what you know about your party

The next NEC summit should not please the selected few who will be going there for their selfish personal interests and self-expidience. Zuma should not be held at ransom by any individual or organization for that matter. The masses of people of South Africa have spoken in great numbers that they want the ANC to remain in power and thereby ratifying the policies that have been adopted by the ANC not the alliance. Some individuals within the alliance have insulted Zuma's intelligence by questioning Manuel's role in the NPC and Manuel has been deployed there by the ANC and the intention is clear, to implement the policies of the ANC and not of the other political organization. Zuma must please only those who made him the president of the republic that is ordinary citizens of South Africa.

SACP & COSATU you seem to have brilliant ideas on how you can change the economic state of this country for the best. My advice to you is: Just move away from the ANC so you can freely push your agendas. I will be there to help the ANC focus their energy more on pressing issues like crime.

COPE can find a party anywhere. In ANC, the party finds you :)

The people shall govern and haters shall die in vain.

People must remember that the alliance comes a long way and cannot allow the difference of opinion to fragment the relationship. Any fool would remember how "Robust Debates" almost became Zuma's middle-name at one stage when he was encouraging members of the alliance to engage each other. When all that starts happening, "News Sources" (with compromised credibility)start prophesizing the demise of the triumvirate. We are watching you very closely!!!

Modiba: 'We are watching you very closely!!!' - Hehe, communists.

May I suggest to the Post Master to make sure that our postings are chronologically shown. We have opinions scattered all over!!!

Sorry chaps, but all you who are making feeble denials that a split does not exsist within the ANC are either card-carrying ANC members who have their heads in the sand or blind and deaf supporters that cannot accept that their beloved ANC has internal problems.
Watch out! The people, your people, are beginning to voice their frustration. If you adopt the attitude of 'let them eat cake' then you will unleach an anger that will make the French Revolution look like a sunday school picinic. 'Let all who have ears, Listen.'(Matthew 11) African history is filled with revolutions - so what makes South Africa any differnt? Please dont insult my intellegence by saying, 'the difference is the ANC has competent people with integrity and compassion'.

I have been supporting SACP and Cosatu all the way but now they are doing too much, they have to leave ANC to take decisions. Iterating Masethla statement, Socialism has no place in the ANC indeed.

The people shall try to govern but they have already found that the people have made the country absolutely ungovernable. So the people can't govern, even if they wanted to. The people can only pretend to govern, but everyone can see right through the thin pretence.

Low: 'The people govern', but why then all the talk about 'revolution'?

the chickens have finally come home to roost!polokwane was not about zuma but about getting rid of mbeki.in fact western cape cosatu SG alluded to the fact that,in polokwane,they wanted someone they could influence in terms of policy direction.it is not surprising that they want everything to go their way.no policy discussions took place and this was inevitable.billy raised legitimate concerns probably felt by many other "moderates".

with the anc gatekeeper being the sacp chair,the left is likely to get its way.this then poses questions about our president's amenability.clearly he does not advocate any policy trajectory of his own,hence everytime he is asked about it,he refers to anc.we should not deny it,the left maintains a lot of influence in the ruling party now more than ever.mbeki was a communist but because of the visionary and pragmatic leader that he was,he walked a tight rope to ensure that the left does not control the party.remember the talk in 2005-06 that the reds would go it alone in the 2009 elections?it was because mbeki had them on a tight leash.now they are roaming all over the place-in government corridors,in Luthuli House,everywhere and zuma cannot extinguish them.ayeye zuma ayeye!

At the very heart of this noise by Billy and those masquerading as ANC moderates is nothing but business interests.

SACP and COSATU have always been clear about socialism there can be no question but people have always thought of them as Pipe-dreamers in slumber-land. Now things have turned, Mr Thabo Mbeki was showed the door and Nationalization of our Mineral Resources is slightly taking the center stage.

Big business are not stupid, they will not wait until this grand debate has firmly taken root both in the center stage and minds of our people, but want to abort it at its embryonic stage. Their plan is to sow seeds of division by hatching this dubious plan that SACP and COSATU have an "agenda", as if their socialist inclinations were hidden all along. People who have a dubious agenda can only be Billy and the so called moderates.

The faint talk about the Nationalization of Mineral Resources has hit a raw nerve; hence capital is up in arms to derail everything that has to do with this talk of the men on the street.

Animal Farm-1209 wishes that only wisdom will prevail and finally set our people free from economic bondage.

Sinudeity,

I was hoping that you will stay out of ANC politics this time around......

Those fine upstanding arseholes in the alliance will do what is allowed by big business irrespective of the loud noise they make - and so will the newspapers.
Karl Marx is long dead - viva Karl Marx.
Mind you, a Stalinist purge of some of the idiots sharing their blinkered thoughts may just be the right medicine for now.

Proudly_South African: You mean out of South African politics.

What a crazy article,What is the meaning of Civil war anyway?
It is people with very reactionary Agendas like these ones who always write articles so as to mislead the public.They did that when COPE was formed,they did this when we went to Eastern Cape provincial conference(i.e. coming with analysis that Cde Mcebisi was winning whilst there was no such, they did this when they said the ANC Government is introducing "Shoot to kill" whilst they know there's no such, and now it's Civil War so that people lose trust on leadership of ANC.

The people on the grass root will never afford you any opportunity by believing in you.Time for lies has gone,It is time that the Press in particular M&G use articles to inform citizens not to mislead them for their Agenda.

Forward with the Unity and Cohesion of the Movement,Forward!!!

ANC politics is not necessarily SA politics, and I am sure you can get involved as a disgruntled and apartheid beneficiary citizen without having to pull a Terre'Blanche on us now and then.....

Your politics suck big time!!!!!!!!

Proudly_South African Proudly_South African

'...Your politics suck big time!!!!!!!!...'

Very mature and credible statement. You got that pearl of wisdom from Jessie's Duarte's book 'If we say it is so it must be'?

Or is 'politics' you and Julias' pet names for each other?

Arg, look who appeared - another rightwing politics supporter..........

Hi Moloko, when are you guys toppling the black government again???

Once again, it would be too simplistic to conclude that the tensions within the ANC are stems from differences between the 'left' wanting to advance a 'socialist' agenda and the defiant ‘right.’

You mean the ANC led government?

The ANC and its partners will cause for their own demise. Me, well I’m just to happy seeing the incompetence, laughing at your comments and wondering ‘how is it possible that someone that can use the computer supports someone that cant spell?’.

If you call supporting good transparent governance, credibility and rule of law right wing, sure, you may call me that. Or coconut, or whatever your illiterate bunch thinks up behind your blacks only forums.

Proudly_South African: The right wingers wount have to 'topple' the government. The left is going to do it for them.

Some morons (whose names I will refrain from mentioning) have just spoiled this topic!

Moloko stop making yourself an issue here.We don't care who says what the Alliance is here to stay and won't be destroyed by Press and on that mark my words.ANC is a multi-class structure and it is obvious that you are bound to have different views on policy directions but that doesn't mean there is Civil war. Views of Cde Billy are his views and he is guided by what he believes in whether it is Capitalism or Socialism but it's wrong to reduce Alliance to that level

I'm starting to realise that this internal 'civil war' is nothing to do with left versus right really. It's a result of the precident set by the removal of President Mbeki. This demonstrated that if you can gather a strong alliance together within the ANC (based around whatever banner you choose), then you can gain access to the gravy train by force.

Pasop Mr Prez! The vultures are circling - if you don't do what they want, they will try and destabilise you and convince others to join their alliance (in this case under the banner of 'socialism'). Then they will oust you with numbers, and let their mates onto the train in the first class carriage.

History repeats itself. The ANC implosion is near. This alliance that snatched power from Thabo, will come apart as the sticky tape holding it together unravels. If you lie with dogs you may get fleas Mr Prez. Sleep with one eye open sir.

Proudly_South African: As a South African citizen, I can comment on anything I like. I can comment on ANC politics, as much as I like.

Amandla awethu!

Dream on haters,ANC &its alliance are still solid as a rock.I can see some people are so excited they think we can be easily divided,NOT IN A MILLION YEARS,it;s just the differences in opinions no civil war.

baxolise mali
Your last line boggles the mind; you say its wrong to reduce the Alliance to either socialist or capitalist. So which is it? Neither? Depends on which leg of the alliance you support? MMmmm… Furthermore, no one on this thread indicated that the alliance will be destroyed by the press. I surely did not.

You’re right about one thing though ‘ANC is a multi-class’; some did, and some did not finish class.

Some of you are putting their big noses on Issues of our movement.This is a suggestion to you all Cope members who are busy analysing MDM issues:
How about you deal with your Anele Mda before attacking Julius?
How about starting to build branches bcos I've never seen a normal structure with National & Provincial leaders who are from no Branch;
How about to start and discuss the issue of who is going to lead you as a President when you go to a conference;
How about defining your ideology cos honestly you don't have;
How about using Zille-Shilowa as tool of analysis as you are going forwad;

If you follow the above then surely you'll see that you are bunch of opportunists,power mongers who need to combine with DA and others cos We want you combined.Anyway it has been a Case of two political organisation which are ANC and others.

We will never be misled by your analysis cos people know their leaders hence even those who were lost to your micky mouse thing are back.

Amandlaness!!!

mali: Just keep on being mislead by your own leaders baxolise.

baxolise mali, you truly are special. I'm sure that no one can mislead someone that is devoid of any cognitive rationalization. You're like that idiot on Friends of JZ site that beleive 40% of journalists are athiest, the remaining 60% are satanists.

burn baby burn.

Different ideologies have lived side by side in the alliance for many years. I don't see any problem about most of the issues that COSATU/SACP are raising.The only problem is that that once people get locked into their ideological boxes where things are seen in terms of "socialist" vs "neo-liberal" debate is stifled. Some of the ideas are dismissed on the basis that they sound "socialist" without debating the merits and demerits. Asian countries have proven that mixing these ideological approaches can work well for developing. The current recession has proven that over-reliance on the markets is a recipe for disaster. Why not nationalise the mines and have the private sector focus on secondary industry to develop manufacturing capacity to add value to our raw minerals. These mines are getting less and less profitable anyway.

To MG, don’t you think the title is just a little too sensationalist?

Anyway, anything that will split the tripartite alliance must be good news. I supported the alliance idea when we were all working towards a free and democratic South Africa. But now that we have arrived at our destination, we don’t need this alliance anymore. If you have a certain ideology that you want people to support, then you have to gain that support through a ballot.

We should always stay well clear of communism. Yes, China might have some amazing growth at the moment, but don’t forget that this growth is on the back of severe infringement of human rights – we’ve been there before, so lets not be stupid and do this to other people. And the social systems being used in Europe is too expensive for us and even the big economies like France are struggling to afford themselves.

I also don’t think that privatisation is the answer. Government is not a business – it is there protect and educate the people and that is what it should be focussing on. And to be honest, they don’t seem to be doing this very well either!

For now Capitalism seems to be the best vehicle we have. For now, anyway…

The government cannot even run the municipalities and the hospitals, ESCOM and SAA is bleeding us dry! How will they nationalize the mines make profits and create jobs. First prove that you can make these things work. We cannot afford to also subsidize the mines and goodness knows what else you want to nationalize.

My view is that this triumvirate will never break no matter how hard one wishes. The tripartite alliance is a mutually parasitic symbiosis between senior & junior partners. The ANC needs the votes from workers lead by Cosatu to win elections. The workers in return want a government that will advance policies that will protect workers from the Capitalist bosses. The Commies provide a platform & nourishment for the relationship to exist, in return they are guaranteed some piece of the action.

Take out Cosatu and the ANC moderates/nationalist will squash the SACP but also the ANC may not achieve a 2/3 majority. Take out the ANC and the SACP will not be able to provide Cosatu with the requisite nutrients. The SACP does not have enough support to be a government in SA and does not have enough support to fight for the workers against the Capital Bosses on its own. It needs the ANC. Take out the SACP and Cosatu loses its political compass and is reduced to a simple workers union and the Capitalist within the ANC eat it alive, which is not good for the ANC as it compromises the 2/3 majority objective. Beside workers may revolt and depose the ANC. So it best that Cosatu always sings the same tune for the ANC.

The three understand this and will always keep pushing the alliance to its very limit to see how far it goes. But also, like all dynamic systems the relation will go through periods of tension, mud slinging, name calling etc. Because these disagreement are not such a good sight to see and create perceptions of infighting, an ammunition for the Opposition. Many in the ANC would insist that these debates occur within the Alliance Summit, where the ANC knows it wilds stronger power to call the junior partners to order. But also where populism has not place but only facts & statistics matter. So you can rest assured Maqabane, that after the Alliance Summit the partners will come out kissing and hugging. Only to raised the same issues again next year and the year after and so on and so on…..

Amandlaless

In my book, if COSATU and elements within the ANC want to push for more affirmative policies on the economy, that's exciting. I agree with you Percy Ngonyama that what they call for - nationalisation of stragetic sectors - isn't socialism. Nationalisations have always been part and parcel of the ways in which the bourgeois ruling class has regulated itself through the engine of the state. This does not mean that Marx, Engels or Lenin as you say, were inherently 'anti state'. If one were compelled to choose between increased state regulation and the privatization model of political economy, any serious communist would back the former with the condition, of course, that they would support and push for such from an independent organisational position, sometimes in temporary (and issue specific) collaboration with social democrats. In the scenario I am outlining, the left in COSATU and SACP would work towards forging an independent path that takes them out of the tripartite alliance, not trying to make it a better alliance by scrambling for posh seats in government. The demand for increased nationalisation of strategic sectors (as bourgeois and limited as it is)can be best achieved by an independent working class movement. Still, if COSATU starts raising noises within the alliance which point it in the direction of an independent working calls movement, it is time that the broader left started upping the discourse around the need to push beyond the tripartite alliance. It is time we had a unifying summit on an alternative paths to the present dead end in which we are trapped.

M&G

Would you please atleast try to be patriotic when Reporting,
Headlines like ¨ANC´s civil war blah blah...¨suck!, coz as ´am out side da country reading things like dat it sounds like someone is Happily exposing South African issues to the world and we are expcting that world to come to our country 2010.
This also includes other issues previously reported about, crime, poverty, corruption...

the bloody communists must contest elections under their banner if they want to rule us...this is a fight to get access to the cookie jar!! time we have new people to manage our tax money properly!!

The people of SA were blind to what was happening in Polokwane in 2007. This was an attempt by SACP and COSATU to take over the government of SA. The flaws in the South African democracy is the ruling party runs the country and who ever control the party control the country. Since there is no direct election in SA, the people who control the party make all of the appointment of the jobs. There was a very good article in the FT about this system of government in SA and the big question the author asked, will J. Zuma be allowed to finish his term. The author also thought that the SACP party was hanging on the coattail of the ANC. The system of government that existed in SA is very weak and makes SA vulnerable to chaos. Trotsky, SA is a net importer of capital and why would anybody put their money in a country when it might be taken away from them by the government. The answer to SA problem and black Africa problems is the lack of an entrepreneur culture among the blacks in Africa. Everyone in Asia wants to be Entrepreneurs but in Africa the people all want to get in the government to steal. You have state own companies in SA and they are all losing money. These state own companies have become a haven for wide spread graft and corruption. So called communist China had the same problems and they sold off all of these companies and now this country is booming. By the way Blade should be told that China doesn't allow labor unions or strikes.

Sensationalism in the highest order. Where's "civil war" in this?

The ANC has always been comprised of great leaders who were equally outstanding leaders of the Communist Party, the Trade Union movement, and Umkhonto weSizwe. Among them are stalwarts of our movement, like Moses Mabhida, Moses Kotane, JB Marks, JK Nkadimeng, Mark Shope, Raymond Mhlaba, Govan Mbeki, Dan Tlhome and Edwin Mofutsanyane.

Consequently a debate about purism, one that wishes to project the ANC as "pure" is both erroneous and a fallacy. It also goes against the content and letter of our seminal conferences, such as Morogoro, which adopted the strategy and tactics principles stating that the working class is the primary motive force of our revolution.

"The national character of the struggle must therefore dominate our approach. But it is a national struggle taking place in a different context from those which characterised the early struggle against colonialism … it is also happening in a new kind of South Africa in which there is a large and well-developed working class … in which the independent expressions of the working people – their political organs and trade unions – are very much part of the liberation front…
Its political organisations – and the trade unions – have played a fundamental role in shaping and advancing our revolutionary course … its militancy and political consciousness as a revolutionary class will play no small part in our victory and in the construction of a real people's South Africa"

The critical challenge and question we need to confront today is: Is the ANC stronger in its alliance with the working class formations, the SACP and COSATU, or is it stronger as a pure nationalist movement? Has it always been a narrow nationalist movement, as many want us to believe, or a revolutionary movement that we have always been told it is?

The multi-class character of the ANC necessitates that, as the various classes grow stronger in society the greater the intensity of class contestation will be within our movement. Consequently, the imperative is for us to be able to differentiate between real contestation and a smokescreen.

The African National Congress is a revolutionary movement. It is not a narrow nationalist movement. We should bear that in mind in our political education.

Through reference to the historical evolution of our movement we can help navigate through our present challenges. We can engage even with the most controversial of postulates, and anchor our debates on the real politik and on correct political understanding.

>> Gwede Mantashe is the Secretary General of the ANC

Bloody stupid title, I agree. But it does signify the political truth, which is that the prehistoric ANC machine is soon going to bust up. And a very good thing that will be for South Africa and its long-suffering citizens.

And, it's high time the SACP became responsible for itself and registered itself as a political party so that the electorate could actually have a choice.

Grow up SA and become the country we have all been waiting for.

Moloko,
I will not reduce myself to a level of calling you names bcos that is for Imidlwembe but let me clarify few issues you raised with an intention to mislead people. When I meant that it is wrong to reduce the alliance to that level and this is what I meant:
1. The alliance was formed on the understanding that we would seek to influence each others on a number of issues that is including policies and It is wrong for Cde Billy to think that because members of SACP/Cosatu who are members of ANC rightly so have committed a sin by influencing direction of the movement and therefore it is wrong to reduce our alliance relations to a level of SACP/COSATU taking over and so on.

One thing I've not said is that majority of journalists are Anti-ANC cos there are still some who can report matters without biasness but there are those who use their political affiliation to mislead people on what they write and report.If I'm an idiot for that then I rather be an Idiot than being a denialist cos that's what you are and it is that thing which is placing you in the ocean full of confusion.

“There’s no way we can achieve these priorities in the current neo-liberal mode. We need an alternative to Gear [growth employment and redistribution policy]. For us, socialism is the way to go. Polokwane signalled a shift from neo-liberal policies.” states Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini.

Yes it may be hard for the left to accept that it may have been taken for a ride and used to bring some to the power, who do not walk the talk ?

Hence, this Alliance is a virtual concoction, hardly sustainable as people will pull to different directions.

How a “developmental state” can achieve anything real and sustainable for the poor when the majority of its leaders prefer to align with capital and the status quo of vested interests ?

The same do not want to change towards a low carbon development as Climate change and peak oil require because this would weaken their interests, which are mainly linked to Fossil fuel.

It appears that the very short term interest of a few does supersede the long term well being and survival of the majority.

Regards

Pl