Career politicians are short sighted by nature. Their outlook and vision is focused and limited to the next election and to what extent such election shall impact on the career. If you ask a career politician what the vision is for the coming 15 years, chances are he will be blank.
The people of EC waited patiently for the outcome of the ANC provincial conference. The wait was not for who has won, but to what extent does the conference take their plight and socio economic situation as well as mechanisms to address those.
The newly elected Chairperson was at pains to convince the other group that unity of the party is more paramount. ANC being a party in government should be more outward looking than inward focus. Very little if any was said about the people of the EC and how their situation will be impacted upon. Instead the conference was more concerned about “not allowing the conference to collapse” than in formulating policy and addressing the issues of the people of EC.
Then came the president, and we all waited for the statement-like address and a father figure to give hope to the nation. He couldn’t resist the urge gloat. He was obviously pleased with the outcome and even declared that those who were hoping for the conference to fail have been disappointed. One could not draw a line between his address and that of the provincial chair. The president, ironically, could not hide his partisan outlook and the confidence booster the conference gave to his party presidential ambitions in December. The very party unity that he spoke about and pleaded for is only good if it delivers his presidential position come December.
The people of the EC are left clueless about what will happen to the many challenges they face. There is no statement of hope that the poverty levels shall be addressed in the near future. There is no hope that their landlessness will receive immediate attention. There is no glimmer of hope that their poor roads and lack of bridges and risking their lives crossing rivers with coffins on their heads.
The dream of 1994 is still deferred. The euphoria of a promised “better life for all” is fast dissipating. The hope of employment opportunities was dashed when the president declared that government is not an employment agency. There is an impromptu song sung with the lyrics that go “uRamaphosa uyamthand’ umahlalela. Uvel’ amnik’ iR350.00”. Our government has become a welfare state with over 16 million persons, some able bodied, on welfare. The R350 grant has been extended to December, with an eye to the ANC national conference. Indeed uRamaphosa uyamthanda umahlalela, uvel’ amnike iR350.
Is this a moment’s pleasure or everlasting treasure?
Black man you are still on your own. Azania must prevail for true liberation to manifest.
SOURCE