On the occasion of 100 days of the government of national unity (GNU) I coined the term “instagram government” which appears to have gained traction. Part of the reason why this label stuck is because there is a healthy dose of truth in it.
The past few months have seen an unhealthy defence of the indefensible in the name of gratitude for what this GNU avoided. I have witnessed vocal opponents of ANC government quite literally defending the exact same practices under this GNU.
One can be grateful for what the GNU avoided and, simultaneously, reasonably expect it to produce real reforms, performance and accountability. It is not a choice. As a matter of fact, this GNU occupies the biggest part of parliament of any government in the history of democratic South Africa and if there is one thing we ought to have learnt by now it is that big government needs to be counter-balanced by big opposition, big media and big civil society.
The problem is that, right now, big media and big civil society appears quite content to act as the izimbongi (praise singers) of this GNU. Almost no public pressure is brought to bear upon parties in the GNU when President Cyril Ramaphosa (whose presidency requires their support) drags his feet in dealing with the VBS-implicated justice minister or when the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), presided over by the same minister, gives the president a pass on Phala Phala. After all, these matters were to have been publicly confirmed by parties to have formed part of the politically negotiated agreement underwriting the GNU.
The problem is that, right now, big media and big civil society appears quite content to act as the izimbongi (praise singers) of this GNU
The official opposition is no better, with many MK members being represented in the glossary of the State Capture Commission’s report, most of whom have operated as state apparatchiks for decades and seem to be more interested in fighting their former comrades than they are in being an actual opposition.
This is why, for the first time in our young democracy, the real work of the opposition falls to newer parties like ActionSA, — parties whose members scurry from one committee to another to be an opposition punching far above its weight to counterbalance the colossus of this GNU.
The work of this unofficial opposition is vital because there is a mounting body of evidence that this GNU is an instagram government.
This was revealed this week when the minister of public works and infrastructure and the minister of education held a joint event to cut the ribbon on toilets built by an NGO at a school. On this day, two of the biggest and most important departments in the South African government had nothing better to do than to appropriate the work of an NGO.
This GNU is more interested in publicity about reform than it is about reform itself.
Remember the GNU policy lekgotla that took place in June? Do you recall a single announcement about economic reform, criminal justice reform, or public wage reform? It’s not your memory letting you down, it is quite literally because this GNU has not announced a single policy reform since its inception.
This GNU is implementing the very departmental blueprints, policy and legislative framework that was dramatically voted out of office by South Africans in May this year.
To mitigate this problem, ministers have quite literally taken to making pronouncements about reforms like “we will declare war against the construction mafia” and “we will not tolerate corruption”. Yet, to the best of my knowledge, government has not declared the construction mafia as organised criminal gangs in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and the NPA’s state capture prosecution scorecard remains blank.
Until more people are put to work, the economy is growing and government can have fewer people depending on a growing fiscus, everything else is academic. This self-evident truth leaves little comfort because it is in the area where this GNU looks the most indecisive.
Strong government can only ever be achieved when it is kept on its toes by strong opposition, strong media and civil society. The GNU needs to deliver the quantum of change that can never arise by continuing what put us in this position in the first place. ActionSA hope this government succeeds but it will need everyone to treat this government just like we would any other — based on what it delivers.
• Beaumont is the national chairperson of ActionSA
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