President Cyril Ramaphosa seems to have invited some of his mates for a friendly chat over a cup of coffee, to chew the fat, so to speak. It promises to be a convivial confab. Beyond that, however, all bets are off.
Much as one would try to look kindly on this much-hyped national dialogue one can see neither need for it nor any value in the outcome. We’ve been here before, countless times. How many times should we allow ourselves to be led up the garden path, only to be disappointed each time? They keep taking us for a ride. They create a mess, and then call it a national crisis — which we’re urgently summoned to solve. Somebody who leads you into a hole or ravine is the last person to lecture you about how to get out of it.
The ANC inherited the best-functioning economy on the continent. They therefore had by far the best opportunity not only to better the lot of our people, but to help change the narrative of Africa as a place of coups, corruption and crime, where millions wallow in poverty and disease. They could, in 30 years, have taken a shot at tackling the poverty that remains a gaping and festering sore in our society, improved the standard of education, the health system and got on top of the soaring crime rate. They have done none of that. Instead, they plundered the place, lined their own pockets and by dint of incompetence that defies belief, ran the country into the ground.
But they’ve done extremely well — for themselves. While poverty and unemployment have skyrocketed on its watch, the ANC has been able to turn a substantial number of its people, most them with no discernible skill or competence, into multimillionaires.
Ramaphosa, who’s proved to be clueless as president, used to chair something called the BEE commission. It proved not to be a bad gig at all. Doors opened for him and wealth flowed in his direction. And thanks to the cadre deployment policy, almost all state institutions and parastatals are manned and run by comrades, who are amply rewarded.
It's also no wonder that public servants are better paid than those in the private sector — they belong to unions in alliance with the ANC. The insiders are having a good time. It’s those outside, especially the majority on the periphery, who’re having a hard time. People used to join the ANC out of a sense of deep commitment to slaying the apartheid dragon. Now party membership, for some at least, has become a ticket to unimaginable wealth.
There’s a common belief that state capture was something cooked up by Jacob Zuma and his cronies. Nothing could be further from the truth. Zuma merely used a template that was already in existence. The ANC made it clear from the beginning that their aim was not simply to govern, but to make sure that the commanding heights of the economy were totally under its control. Transformation meant every sector of society would be under its thumb. Policies such as cadre deployment saw to that. But they had neither the measure of the nuances and complexities of society — many of the leaders having been in exile for a long time — nor the people with the skill and competence to achieve such an ambitious project.
Predictably, they failed. But because they wielded absolute power and believed that, in Zuma’s memorable words, they’d be in command until Jesus returned, they resorted to doing the easiest thing — they went on a stealing spree. We should therefore not fall for the lie that Zuma stole alone.
Ramaphosa has proved himself to be a consummate ditherer. He’s wasted money appointing commissions of inquiry and task teams, only to use them to defuse and deflect
Despite Ramaphosa’s mellifluous assurances, state capture is on steroids, driving the corruption that is still happening under his nose. He’s done nothing about cabinet ministers fingered over corruption. If anything, he’s gone out of his way to protect them. So, who’s fooling who? It’s not only perplexing; it’s infuriating.
Talking is no bad thing. As Winston Churchill would say: jaw-jaw is better than war-war. But there has to be a reason or justification for it. This so-called national dialogue is completely unnecessary, and a total waste of time and resources. It’s yet another futile attempt to save the ANC from itself. The party’s in the dock. It should mend its ways. There’s no need to be spending resources on meaningless talk shops.
Ramaphosa has proved himself to be a consummate ditherer. He’s wasted money appointing commissions of inquiry and task teams, only to use them to defuse and deflect. What makes people think that a frog will suddenly turn into a handsome prince this time around? Act on the recommendations of the Zondo commission, for instance — and then maybe we can talk.
He seems to have seriously undermined his own initiative with the type of people he’s chosen for his so-called Eminent Persons Group — an embarrassingly unoriginal name. A national dialogue, if it is to stand any chance of success, should include all views and sectors of society.
Why should a member of the MKP, EFF, AfriForum or business and cultural groups have any confidence in an initiative driven by establishment types? Did these names pop out of Ramaphosa’s head or did he consult widely? And are we that short of talent that we should rouse people from their dotage to lead what is supposed to be a national endeavour? It also seems appointing both Barnabas and Engenas Lekganyane is more about negotiating or defusing a family feud than addressing the national crisis. This thing seems to have lost credibility before it’s even got off the ground.
There’s no need for more toy telephones. If Ramaphosa is still oblivious to what is wrong, he should consult the tomes of recommendations gathering dust on his desk.
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