The downside to the policy conference is that it comes at a time when the party's leadership is embroiled in another bitter leadership battle.

Unfortunately, judging from some of the debates around the ANC policy discussion document released in February, the conference could be marred by palace politics instead of the real engagement of the issues at hand.

The various responses to the proposed "second transition" is a case in point.

As several political commentators have already pointed out, instead of being engaged as a mechanism to chart the way forward for the ruling party, the notion of a "second transition" has been used by various factions as a weapon to clobber their political opponents, and also to position themselves in the party's leadership battle.

Of course, ANC diehards will argue that this is in the nature of democratic engagement. But the reality is that if anything is to come out of the policy conference, the delegates must become visionaries and look beyond Mangaung.

This is the only way the ANC can effectively deal with such challenges as "the dangers of incumbency''.

Unfortunately, failure to do so can only lead the party into the kind of political rut that opens up opportunities for self-serving opportunists.

Comments

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Thu Jun 20 07:19:21 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 26, 2012

MissBhakajuju

am watching the conference, its live on eNews.

wish ANC can unite, or be the ANC I respected.
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Jun 26, 2012

Curry

Things are not looking up for the yellow snake (ANCYL)
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Jun 26, 2012

Tango

MissBhakajuju
am watching the conference, its live on SABC 2.
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Jun 26, 2012

malemaforpresident

nationalise the mines expropraite the land without compensation push for free education
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Jun 26, 2012

ZIYA

@Curry
Hahahahaha you being silly. I hope those delegates can be sober and stop their selfishness and focus on the policy that will shape the future of this country for the better. Robust engangement is right, but it must not be influenced by position mongering and arrogance.

@ malemaforpresident
pity your call to "nationalise the mines and expropraite the land without compensation" is not supported by most delegates, instead the alternative will be considered. Unlike blanket nationalisation and it's seen as a Malema call, which is no longer having weight within ANC. If you support it, you will be seen to be supporting the dead, then better put it on ice.
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Jun 26, 2012

hulas

I am also watching the come together of the tribalist,looters,thieves,liars,snakes rats,hyenas,jackals,dogs.
Nothing will come out of this conference the poor will remain poor,joe on the street will never get employment because economy is not growing.
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Jun 26, 2012

hulas

Sabc also broadcast this gathering of the fat cats live on its radios stations.It is stupid decision like this that makes this institution to be in financial red, this is not government conference but party gathering why shove all the resources to this above all one of the reason i am not paying any tv license.
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Jun 26, 2012

WakeUpSouthAfrica

The meeting started two hours later. Its what happens when all the self-important people decide to arrive "fashionably late".

Everyone arrived fashionably late :P
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Jun 26, 2012

Curry

Its too many people under one roof to have a constructive debate and make 'robust' decisions
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Jun 26, 2012

Papage

Whos is paying their salaries, they are forever in meetings and the Country is burning? are they employed anyway? or they earn from corrupt deals they are pushing?
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