THERE IS NOTHING HONEST AND TRUTHFUL IN YOUR CRITICISM OF THE ANC By: Kaizer Mohau
I have come to conclude without any doubt that indeed the middle strata is not a class but an inconsistent vacillating strata – depending on the balance of forces in the body politic. It will be remembered that prior to the ANC’s Polokwane conference in December of 2007 – some individual so-called political analysists, commentators, journalists and media houses pronounced on their choice of leadership that the African National Congress should elect at the end of its own conference. Reasons were stated as to lobby for a certain collective of leadership – that must come out of the conference to lead the ANC. Some of these reasons include the theory of “investor confidence”, a theory that has become a buzzword used to criticise other leaders to whom the media and its thinking army of soothsayers of doom- do not like or appreciate. Very interesting, even though our Democratic Breakthrough has always been warned against taking a direction that will affect negatively the confidence those foreign investors have in our country and our economy. In the face of it this argument is a correct one in the sense that our country cannot operate as an Island isolated from the broad “global” economy and politics – but a closer look into this debate provide us with a number of analytical realities. Firstly, those advancing this debate with passion as does Allister Sparks, the Star, Wednesday, 29 April 2009 – where in which Sparks argues the following: “ Zuma dare not do anything to frighten away what little investment may be around, which would make a situation worse – economic survival has to be the name of the game”. There are two realities we can deduct from Allister Sparks’ view – one is that Allister Sparks seem to have long started to write an autopsy of our democratic dispensation before the democratic elections of 2009. As part of those who wanted a certain set of leadership and failed in their coup’detat against the ANC, Sparks and his colleagues in the industry of public opinion making – developed this negative view about our country after the ANC conference and after their horse failed to win. So, by saying things might be worse for our country at the level of the economy – is extreme and an indication of an intention to want to impose on the ANC the kind of leaders the likes of Sparks prefers. Allister Sparks, further exposes himself as one of the most Anti Communists whose fears of Stalinism lead them to see danger in anything that is red – By trying to warn the ANC and its President against the appointment of leaders from the South African Communist Party and COSATU into the new government Sparks makes it clear that his fears are not based on his so called journalistic ethics and analysis but purely on his ideological orientation – in fact Sparks want us to believe that the South African economy under the previous regime was better as compared to what the SACP and COSATU can contribute in the unfolding development of our economy and our country. Sparks is very superficial in his views – because he does not provide his readers with a better alternative in terms of avoiding the “worse” – this is because his analysis are clouded by his passionate hatred of the democratic movement, thus making such pathetic conclusions about our country. In his article in the abovementioned edition of the Star newspaper, Sparks’ introduction begins with his negative givings about Cde Jacob Zuma who is the President elect of the Republic and the current President of the African National Congress. Sparks argues the following: “ Although I still have serious misgivings about Jacob Zuma as our new President, about the gravity of the corruption charges against him that have not been tested in court, about the questionable and possibly illegal manner in which they were withdrawn at the last minute, and about some of the things he has had to say about the constitutional court, I must hand it to the man: he is a formidable fighter.” Sparks further argues as follows: “ Four – and – a – half years ago, when he was facing that potentially devastating charge of rape in addition to the array of fraud and corruption allegations that had sent his close collaborator Schabir Shaik to prison, Zuma looked like a dead man walking”. For me it is this part of Allister Sparks vitriolic attacks on the ANC President that seem to be the premise from which Sparks derives his analysis and conclusions about the future of our country under the current leadership of our movement. Allister Sparks like many of his friends- lacks the audacity and decency - to articulate their views objectively without serious contradictions. If indeed Sparks is concerned about all the things he said, especially the issue of the so-called corruption charges which he says were not tested in court, why does he raise the rape issue which was tested in court and found to be not true? Sparks mentioned the issue of the withdrawal of corruption charges against the ANC President – in which he has the believe that charges were illegally withdrawn – but he does not tell (us) his readers as to what constitutes and illegal element in the decision taken by the National Prosecuting Authority. Sparks knows that Prosecutors are the once who are taking people to court – to prosecute them – now what does he mean that the charges were never in court when the very people who are supposed to take the matter to court says, there is no legal or prosecutorial need for that? Sparks accuses the ANC President of having said some disturbing statements about the constitutional court which according to Sparks and his fellow soothsayers of doom – should never be subjected to any kind of criticism – but Sparks again accuses Prosecutors of acting illegally in withdrawing charges – who said Sparks is the only one with the right to criticise our democratic institutions? Perhaps, we should naturally be able to tell Allister Sparks that what you can and should be doing is to speculate on issues including the question of who will the ANC appoint in what position – by going further than what you are able to do will definitely cost you a lot including the respect some young journalists and analysists except me have for you. By: Kaizer Mohau Ikageng Potchefstroom North west province 072 080 2824 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. 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