Karima Brown
16 November 2009
Johannesburg — PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has managed to hold the political centre over the past three days as leaders of the alliance led by the African National Congress (ANC) gathered behind closed doors in an attempt to develop consensus on how best to deliver on education, jobs, health, rural development and the fight against crime.
A candid ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe told the media yesterday that the allies could not afford to pussy-foot around issues of sharp disagreement.
"The president captured the summit well when he said it was the first time in a long time where people did not have to hold back. They said what they wanted to say. After all, we can't pretend that there are no differences. There was no softly- softly approach. If one party was unhappy and asked for a time to caucus then we gave it," he said.
The gathering, described by alliance leaders as a seminal event in the political history of the country since 1994, signals a number of changes in how political dynamics play out in post-apartheid SA.
Moreover, judging from the outcomes on key issues, including the mandate of the Reserve Bank, education, the National Planning Commission (NPC) and the energy cris is, it appears as if Zuma has been able to get each party to see beyond its immediate sectional interests.
At face value, the left seems to have lost the battle over the controversial NPC, with Zuma ensuring that Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel remains firmly in charge of a commission compris ing external experts. This is an obvious blow to the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), which led the charge against Manuel, arguing that he would become far too powerful in the Cabinet.
Alliance insiders say Zuma led the charge against Cabinet ministers playing the role of commissioners, arguing that their turf battles would follow them to the commission and waylay plans for the speedy implementation of the government's national strategic planning efforts. But if one looks at the outcome of the summit as a package of interventions, particularly on economic policy questions, it becomes clear that the left's views on key issues have not only been heard, but also agreed to. This includes a rejection of a 45% tariff hike on electricity as proposed by Eskom.
The ANC's willingness to continue with a review and broadening of the mandate of the Bank also suggests change is afoot. The extent of that change can be debated but as one alliance leader put it, "one can hardly agree to review the mandate of the Reserve Bank and expect policy to remain unchanged".
However, key to understanding the role of each of the allies under Zuma is an acceptance by the left that it can no longer howl from the sidelines. In the past the South African Communist Party (SACP) and Cosatu were marginalised and could retreat to the comfort of debates only. Now the left has a seat at the top table and needs to take responsibility for governance.
"We have to go beyond just making suggestions on policy, we have to have solutions that work," said an alliance leader in the Cabinet.
This brings the reality, for example, of having to ensure that recalcitrant teachers -- even union members -- attend classes, teach and perform their jobs properly in the development state's efforts to fix the basics in education, health and other areas of public service.
But it is not just the left that has to change its ways. After almost a decade of paying lip service to alternative policy positions espoused by its allies on macroeconomic and social questions, the ANC remains the leader, but does not have a monopoly on decisions in the troika with Cosatu and the SACP.
For the ANC it is no longer business as usual.
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AMANDLA !!!!!!!!! NGAWETHU !!!!!!!!! Please comrades pull up your socks and sleeves and make sure that better life is delivered to the people of South Africa.No more talking above the heads of ordinary people but more direct engagement with them. Election to public office does not neccessarily mean that those who are elected know everything but it means that they are able to listen and provide leadership.The truth of the matter is that South Africans are highly politicised,thanks to the progressive movement led by the ANC.My small advice is to Cde Malema . Comrade try as much as possible to tone your speeches down and avoid playing to the gallery.I appreciate that you have the energy and support you must sometimes,for tactical reasons,let the other people comment ,you might find their comments quite useful.
I am happy to hear that the summit discussed issues directly affecting people of SA instead of philosophising so as to appear to be sophisticated .The tri-partite alliance owes its existence to the masses of this country who have always put their confidence and support to it .So comrades these summits should never be talk shows and competitions about eloquence and charisma but should be about finding solutions to the country's problems and providing leadership not only to ANC supporters but to all the people of SA including the lost souls in Cope and DA. ALUTA!!!!!!!!!!CONTINUA!!