By: Clyde Ramalaine
THE R1BN BROTHEL [ANYONE AND EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE] THE ANC BECAME SINCE DECEMBER 2017; FEARS BEING SHUT BY THE TRUTH OF AUTHENTIC ANC VALUES
The ANC’s 55th Conference is still scheduled for December 2022. Meaning with sixteen months to go, contenders for the ANC Presidential race contenders will shortly begin to announce themselves. In an earlier musing, I asked the critical question: what will the role be of the ANC Women’s League in this instance? Arguably the most stable and best-organised league, it is naturally a powerful constituency that will determine the next president of the ANC. The ANCWL, as recent as last week, reiterated its strong view on having a female president to lead the country in the next national government elections expected to be held in 2024. Yet, leading South Africa can only occur if the ANC Conference pronounces its next president in December 2022.
The Sunday Times this past weekend introduced South Africa, or should we say those who did not know to the Ramaphosa grand scheme with former Speaker Thandi Modise. Given the history of the Sunday Times and its rather cosy, often mouthpiece role relationship with Ramaphosa, we must accept the information as more than credible. While Modise currently occupies the office of Minister of Defence, the plan is to have her on his slate as deputy president come December 2022, leading to SA 2024 running mate. Not one shy to make known his preferred slate, we can expect him to announce his dream team again. We are less likely to see another reshuffle with one singular purpose: to get rid of David Mabuza before December 2022. Meaning Ramaphosa will not dare to offload Mabuza.
Cabinet Reshuffle or Launch of CR22 campaign?
It is perhaps important to appreciate what happened on the night of the reshuffle. South Africans by now know Ramaphosa as one high on words and the master of obfuscation, the prince of abdication and the self-serving emperor. Those discerning eyes could see Ramaphosa rushed on stage late, huffing and puffing to announce the long-awaited and underwhelming reshuffle. We were in leaked sense apprised of his intentions to trim his cabinet. He had also let it known he wanted to move specific unwanted that he would cut the cabinet.
So, there was no surprise that he shuffled the ones he did not want. But the promised trimming of the cabinet turned out to be the bloating of a National Executive for a more sinister reason. Only those asleep did not realise this reshuffle had nothing to do with efficiency or effective government but uniquely so the CR22 is in overdrive. He was going to use the reshuffle to launch his CR22 campaign for a second term. Unfortunately, very few are alive to his abuse of his SA presidency position to advance his self-serving ambitions for a second term.
There ought to be some law that forbids Presidents from abusing this position for self-interest. South Africans do not yet realise that instead of improving the quality of the cabinet, he sharpens his chances driven by his testosterone-led ambition at the nation’s expense. This time, he is not scared of being fired because he is taking the people for granted. We heard from his captured media that the Speaker is altered because she is groomed for a Deputy President role. Which part of the Constitution allows that abuse of public good borne from naked self-interest? Notice how a grown and seasoned ANC leader such as Modise apparently must be subjected to grooming to lead and determined by a male. If this is not the epitome of male chauvinism, and entitlement what is? The mind of the patriarchy in the glaring display.
We also heard of the choreographed return of Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. Mlambo-Ngcuka. The former UN official who back in 2008 participated in the discussions to form a breakaway party that became COPE is telling everyone willing to listen. She is coming to play a role. Mlambo-Ngcuka, back then around 2009, stage-played her coming out to be a COPE member. She cannot separate her name from Thabo Mbeki’s past and current presence in our national discourse. It is claimed she is and remains the Mbeki ‘project’ now revived and sold to a less an indecisive Ramaphosa who does not know how to respond to the offer given the ones who direct him. Furthermore, Mlambo-Ngcuka must hurdle the reality that she makes up part of a group of ANC leaders willing to destroy the ANC because they served the cult of the personality of Mbeki. She, therefore, must accept that trusting her is not a natural thing anymore.
She thus cannot assume she is returning as someone entitled to be in a designated position as if she never betrayed the ANC with her choice for a COPE. She remains suspect in her commitment to the ANC. Mlambo-Ngcuka is ideologically aligned to the doctrine of neoliberalism that Mbeki and Ramaphosa share. Meaning, she is by no means the answer for the radical economic disruption the masses require but represents the interests of her elite and Old West world. Mlambo-Ngcuka will also not escape the scrutiny in association with her husband, Bulelani Ngcuka. Bulelani was the first NDPP to introduce factional politics into the NPA. His conversations with Leonard McCarthy on when the best time was to arrest Zuma and the impact for Mbeki’s presidency. His controversial briefing of Media editors on the prima facie evidence of an Arms-Deal saga, which defines an ongoing case against Jacob Zuma, remains fresh in the minds of many. For some, she, no different to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in 2017, will be associated with the politics, shenanigans of her husband’s role in Zuma’s ongoing agony. While Mlambo-Ngcuka may return as many times as she wants to, she is not any serious contender for the position she may eye.
On the other hand, we have the unfolding Modise plan of obfuscation. It’s a long time, and much has transpired since Thandi Modise returned from Angola as an MK soldier. Since then, she has successfully served in several ANC, government, defined national and provincial offices. The last was her role as Speaker of Parliament.
However, Modise’s name is not without controversies, accusations and claims. At least one constituency, namely the NSPCA, the animal lovers crowd, are on high alert that she may be SA’s next deputy president. The NSPCA has not forgiven Modise for its July 2014 discovery of several dead animals, including chickens, pigs, goats and geese, on a farm owned by Modise in Modderfontein, outside Potchefstroom in the North West Province. In her defence, we must also acknowledge that Modise appointed a farm manager who ultimately stands accused of the neglect.
Modise also courted trouble when she, in 2017, was fingered as taking a travel allowance of more than R125 000, which she was not entitled to as the chairwoman of the National Council of Provinces. She was requested to repay this allowance over three years, but she resisted this instruction, and unclarity exists as to whether she eventually repaid the sum.
Some would accuse her of showing self-serving tendencies since they remember how she at the ANC 53rd Mangaung Conference in 2012 had eyed the deputy presidency and chairperson roles. They will remember that when she was not successfully nominated, she left the Conference. It reminds us of how Ramaphosa refused to attend Mandela’s historical inauguration when he too was not announced as the deputy president.
Those who do not appreciate Modise’s leadership will raise a slew of accusations of how fruitless, wasteful and irregular expenditures characterised her tenure as Premier in the North West. In this regard, the negative impact on SMME’s. It is argued this was because of her brash and arrogant attitude as one in control of the purse.
On governance and service delivery, some claimed she failed the Majakaneng Community in the basics of water and roads. Some remember her when contractors who build houses without foundations were nevertheless paid at her instructions as premier during 2012-2014. Some remember Modise of failing to consult the ANC when roads in the North West were transferred to SANRAL.
Also, others would hold that her status as a political prisoner, MK soldier, and exile saw her arrogating a right to dismiss others she considered less. These claims may point to the quality of leader she may or not be. It again surfaces the subject of ANC leaders putting the people last and themselves first, unfortunately not the intrinsic values of an original ANC.
Modise was also instrumental as Speaker to ensure the parliamentary investigation into the fitness of the Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. Shall we forget how ANC Members of Parliament were coerced and threatened with grave consequences by ANC Chair Gwede Mantashe if they would not vote along with the DA proposed motion? She is also known for her no-nonsense approach, and it is believed she has dictator streaks.
These, true or false, constitute some of the allegations levelled against Modise, Ramaphosa’s hope to stymie off other female contenders. Yet, none of these will necessarily stop Ramaphosa to see his Sunday Times reported plan to the end. However, he will have to overcome a few more hurdles.
It thus appears Modise or Mlambo Ngcuka surface as drafted in to neutralise the undeniable growing candidacy of Lindiwe Sisulu. There is little doubt that Ramaphosa is weary with her candidacy.
Her rejoinder on the Walter Sisulu lecture delivered by Thabo Mbeki unveiled a grounded Sisulu that stood toe-to-toe with Mbeki. Her growth in stature, particularly her adamant and resilient mind to deal with corruption combined with her human heart to be present among the hurt, bereaved, wounded KZN victims of the Phoenix Massacre, registered an undeniable presence.
It is clear that her candidacy spells an impending threat to Ramaphosa’s second term chances, hence the untimely and deliberate shifting from Human Settlements and Water & Sanitation portfolios to Tourism, in aim of punishment. It was Ramaphosa’s most explicit attempt to flex his muscle. Strangely her removal was not for failing in her duties. Instead, Sisulu was moved because she is vocal about the corruption she unravelled, particularly at the Water and Sanitation Department. Is there a link between her removal and the need to continue stalling the Amatola Water Board corruption cases?
Her ouster, therefore, ensures the cases of Amatola Water Board, with its interesting array of names, remain stalled. Ramaphosa’s other reason for shifting Sisulu is his nervousness about her spontaneous growing presence in media space as the bridge he will have to cross if he has any hope of a second term. Ramaphosa knows Sisulu is not with him. He cannot play her with a deputy president dangling carrot regardless of whom he may dispatch to attempt to change her mind.
What does Ramaphosa’s plan of drafting in a woman candidate as his deputy communicate?
It confirms that Ramaphosa does not take seriously the unequivocal call and demand of the ANCWL to have a Woman President by December 2022. It again underscores the age-old ANC patriarchal mind borne from an entitlement of a superior gender that arrogates a right to determine when and how a woman will be ready to lead the ANC. It equally confirms that according to Ramaphosa and his crowd, a woman president can only come after his second term, meaning only in 2027.
It also indicates that Ramaphosa intends to play the same game he played to string some women along when he already knows he will end up with a male for a deputy SA presidency, as we saw with David Mabuza’s appointment. Naledi Pandor discovered that while being in his pronounced slate and “dream team”, she never smelled the SA deputy president position. Ramaphosa played her and the ANCWL; again, a typical male merely using women as means for his desired ends.
This move by Ramaphosa also speaks to signalling the beginning of the end for both Mabuza and Mashatile’s individual or pact dreams. As things stand, it appears he feels reasonably in control with a wholly pliant NEC and virtually no resistance in the ANC top six structure. He may judge it opportune to pull the proverbial plug on Mabuza and Mashatile, both tainted with corruption allegations. Interestingly, those who insisted Ramaphosa become president rationalised this from the basis that a deputy president position is a natural progression to the presidency.
We must wait and see how the ANCWL will engage Ramaphosa’s plan in which Thandi Modise becomes the latest convenient means to a determined end, that being his second term at any cost. We must also not be deceived to assume Ramaphosa has the ANC grassroots support at the branch level as supposed and seen in an NEC that bows to him. There is growing consensus that he is vulnerable and very paranoid, security-obsessed and out of kilt with the masses because while he has captured the current NEC, he will face a revolt that he did not anticipate when the right time shows.
I ask again, will the ANCWL allow itself to be played, divided and ultimately again bow in subservience before the depravity of patriarchy, chauvinism and abuse by one who escapes accountability on all fronts?
What does Ramaphosa’s plan of drafting in a woman candidate as his deputy communicate?
It confirms that Ramaphosa does not take seriously the unequivocal call and demand of the ANCWL to have a Woman President due to the 55th Conference. It again underscores the age-old ANC patriarchal mind borne from an entitlement of gender determines when and how a woman will be ready to lead the ANC. It equally confirms that according to Ramaphosa and his crowd, a woman president can only come after his second term, meaning only in 2027.
It also indicates that Ramaphosa intends to play the same game he played to string some women along when he already knows he will end up with a man for a deputy SA presidency, as we saw with David Mabuza’s appointment. Naledi Pandor discovered that while being in his pronounced slate and “dream team”, she never smelled the SA deputy president position.Ramaphosa played her and the ANCWL; again, a typical male merely using women as objects for his desired ends.
This move by Ramaphosa also speaks to signalling the beginning of the end for both Mabuza and Mashatile’s individual or pact dreams. As things stand, it appears he feels reasonably in control with a wholly pliant NEC and virtually no resistance in the ANC top six structure. He may judge it opportune to pull the proverbial plug on Mabuza and Mashatile, both tainted with corruption claims. Interestingly, those who insisted Ramaphosa become president rationalised this from the basis that a deputy president position is a natural progression to the presidency.
We must wait and see how the ANCWL will engage this latest Ramaphosa plan in which Thandi Modise becomes the latest convenient means to a determined end, that being his second term at any cost. We must also not be deceived to assume Ramaphosa has the ANC grassroots support at the branch level as supposed and seen in an NEC that bows to him. There is growing consensus that he is vulnerable and very paranoid, security-obsessed and out of kilt with the masses because while he has captured the current NEC, he will face a revolt that he did not anticipate when the right time shows.
I ask again, will the ANCWL allow itself to be played, divided and ultimately again bow in subservience before the depravity of patriarchy, chauvinism and woman abuse by one who escapes accountability on all fronts?
What is Ramaphosa’s biggest fear?
His biggest fear is a candidate who genuinely believes in the re-awakening of ANC values and finding its original landmark. An authentic servant-leadership culture attests to the antithesis of Ramaphosa’s corrupt R1bn capitalist-political-brothel where everything and everyone is bought. A brothel known for its betrayals, threatening people into submission and double-dipping, which defines Ramaphosa’s bequeathed ANC organisational leadership legacy. He fears a candidate that knows him because she brought him to the ANC. A candidate not borne from entitlement but the conviction of what Steven Biko, the father of Black Consciousness coined the courage-to-be.
A candidate ready to stand up against wrong. A candidacy fearless in the persuasion that the ANC needs to shut its recent brothel identity, where abuse is rife, patronage the currency and crass materialism the signpost. Ramaphosa fears a candidate that calls for the ANC’s return to its landmark of serving the masses in humility, accountable to answer and not abdicate in self-exoneration as the State Capture Commission circus again last week showed with Ramaphosa and Raymond in the R1bn platitudes show. That candidate is a seasoned woman, Lindiwe Sisulu. Ramaphosa and his handlers sleep less because they know Sisulu will stop him. Truth does not straddle lanes, righteousness never bows to unrighteousness, and evil is never the master over good.
A Lifelong Social Justice Activist Political Commentator & Writer is a SARChi D. Litt.et. Phil candidate in Political Science with the University of Johannesburg. Chairperson of TMoSA Foundation – The Thinking Masses of SA
