What can we say about Opposition Parties in South Africa? On my 2008 November Political overview, I wrote “As political opposition parties never stop discussing the ANC and its leadership in their campaign I think there are many votes we will also be getting from their supporters. I am saying this because those supporters do not hear what those parties are going to do but they are told how wrong the ANC is. It is my view that South Africa is running short of opposition parties but accumulating groups of political analyst who criticize the ANC at the expense of their own image …”
This statement is still relevant as I write this paper. We have seen in recent developments many strange actions and decisions that there is a high level of deterioration in the capacity and the fundamental existence of opposition parties. My feeling has always been that of the urgent need to review the work of these parties. Their existence is funded by the state and therefore we directly or indirectly affected by their very existence. It is therefore imperative that we should transform the political atmosphere in the society in general. My understanding is that Opposition Parties’ fundamental role is to criticize the ruling party on its failure to deliver to the people and its weakness to respond on all social, economic, and developmental needs facing the society. The criticism should be informed and constructive. The criticism should be objective and focus on redressing the issues other than individuals. In this regard the opposition parties must not focus on criticizing the individual members of the ruling party but their lack of active role in service delivery to the people. They shall not personalize issues. South Africa being the democratic state has fundamental rights to freedom of association and expression. Thus make the people to assembly in organization of their own choice, which correspond with their own believed ideology and persuasion in life. This is a constitutional mandate befitting true characters of freedom that our heroes and heroines struggled for. This principle applies in sports, economy, religion, culture, and in politics. However sometimes the ideology become homogeneous in other organizations but how they seek to achieve may differ from party to party. To some people it doesn’t make sense but it is happening anyway. To be specific, the recent developments indicate deterioration in a sense that the Opposition Parties will oppose for the sake of opposing not necessarily because they are objective or what. The Congress of the People said its formation will consolidate democracy in South Africa through stabilizing the 1994 gains. The United Democratic Movement said they will ensure a strong voice against the ANC. The Democratic Alliance said they will ensure tight opposition against the ANC. The other parties are also raising their own views about harnessing and intensifying the participatory democracy. During the 2009 election lobbying, all parties made promises to the people and some got seats in our Parliament and Legislatures. We expect those parties to fulfill their mandate, in particular the ruling party. Because the manifesto is a public document and easily accessible, I expect opposition parties to utilize the manifesto and resolution of cabinet leklotla in order to oppose the government. The opposition parties shall criticize the ruling party base on its policies and on how they seek to address developmental needs of the society. Two incidents have transpired: • Western Cape Cabinet is led by the Democratic Alliance. The cabinet is composed of whites and males only. This is against the ruling party’s policies on patriarchy and demographic representation. It is unfortunate that the deployment of DA has compromise the principle of equality enriched in our democratic constitution and undermines the 1994 progress to date, on these critical areas of focus. The Premier’s statement in replying to the comments made on her decision to appoint such a cabinet has raised a number of concerns about the building of a one nation, which the DA promised during election lobbying. She said “I need dedicated team which will work not teddy-bears who will sleep” • UNISA Vice Chancellor has been accused of failing to address challenges facing students by the progressive youth alliance components namely South African Students Congress (SASCO) and the South African Young Communist league (YCLsa). These accusations come from the University Management decision to deny students who owe the Institution to write their examinations. This decision was contested by students on appropriate forums and nothing has been done, as a consequence of that, the senior structures are intervening. The criticism on the Vice Chancellor Barney Pityana has always been raised like with all Principals whenever there are unfolding reactionary tendencies. Barney Pityana said “these students have a contractual obligation to pay the Institution so if that obligation is not met, the university will devise measures in this regard..” that is reactionary because when students were contesting that decision and many other things, they were threatened of being suspended and some suspended indeed by the management. It was going to be better if the management withheld the results other than to deny access to exam room. Because the PYA is challenging these developments and therefore called for the Vice Chancellor to resign and the new Minister of Higher Education and Training to intervene, the youth of Congress of the People is rolling sleeves to contest the PYA and pledges support for the Vice Chancellor. The Cope youth leader Anele Mda said “this is the continuation of purging those who are associated with COPE not necessarily about the lack of management in the University” I don’t know whether Cope members were not affected by this decision or they don’t have members studying in UNISA. This is affecting all students, in particular those coming from the poorest of the poor and disadvantage background. We don’t expect it from those who were part of Black Consciousness Movement or any learning territory. We say this is academic and financial exclusion. The access to education and examination room shall never be determined by the ability to pay or affordability to meet ‘contractual obligation’ as conceptualized by the honourable Barney Pityana. These two incidents intensify the perception of others that opposition parties are opposing for the sake of opposing not objective and realistic. This subjective persuasion of politics indicates the deteriorating mood of existence and capacity of opposition parties in our country. We have a duty to educate and keep political engagements unfolding in order to consolidate the democracy in South Africa. I would appreciate if opposition parties are criticizing the lack of roads, water, decent houses and slow pase of developmental initiative in matters affecting the people. The other challenge facing opposition parties is to exist when there are elections. That is also very critical; they may argue and say it is a question of resources. That is untrue. To hold meetings and issue public statements doesn’t require thousands and millions. It seems as if opposition parties do not have their own agenda if there are no elections. The other challenge is that of one leader show. A leader becomes the Party as an individual and that diminishes the party if the leader does or say something to the public which is against the people’ interest at a time. These are most of the illnesses facing opposition parties in South Africa hence make their capacity to deteriorate. Some of these parties are described as liberation movements and they participated in the struggle against apartheid. We have seen how the Pan African Congress has suffered split and dignity in the recent years. This is not healthy for them and the struggle in general. The current struggle facing South Africa is to ensure equality in all levels and better life for all. But it is a sign that in South African we have one strong Party that exists because of its own policies which were never dictated, imposed or even outsourced from somewhere. This party still remains the hope of our people, a longest liberation movement, a true agent for change, a liberator, the one and only African National Congress. But the question remains, what must be done about the opposition parties? Is political School for Political education an answer? The moratorium on the registration of Opposition Parties will compromise the constitution? Let’s engage!!! ------------------------------------------- South Africas premier free email service - www.webmail.co.za ------------------------------------------------------------------ For super low premiums, click here http://home.webmail.co.za/dd.pwm --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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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