Thu May 23 20:59:47 SAST 2013
Thu May 23 20:59:47 SAST 2013

Our democracy favours and serves the political elites

Jun 26, 2012 | Andile Mngxitama | 6 comments

THREE thousand members of the ANC will meet in Midrand, Johannesburg, to draft policy for 50-million people!

Picture taken from www.196.41.20.218

Our democracy is hostile to real citizens' participation. We should call it a democratic dictatorship, where the majority willingly surrenders its power to a handful of politicians.

We have surrendered power to 400 people in the National Assembly (including opposition parties) whom we have no means whatsoever to hold accountable.

Only their parties can decide on their fate. So our "democracy" favours and serves politicians and not the people.

We have given these individuals a blank cheque to do as they wish with the billions of rands under their control.

Naturally, the first thing they do is to take care of themselves through high salaries, benefits: a minister can drive a car worth a million rand while children learn under trees.

Only our newspapers and "analysts" don't know that the whole ANC policy conference is not about policies, it's about who will emerge as the leader of the party in Mangaung. He will then distribute benefits such as ministerial posts, senior positions in the civil service and tenders.

It's ironic that as they sit in Midrand, all the factions at war are not bothered by the fact that the education system of black children is in total chaos.

Are the people who claim "economic freedom in our lifetime" not from Limpopo?

Don't they have absolute political power there? Why have they not made sure textbooks were delivered on time? Why should we give these people more power over the economy?

As we speak, they are planning to give big business R5-billion under the guise of a "youth wage subsidy." We have also seen how billions have been committed to the destructive and ineffective International Monetary Fund (IMF) to bail out Europe.

The ruling party has reduced governance to izikhothane practices.

They burn money to show off! That Beyonce story is part of it all. Kenny "Mr ZAR" Kunene is the inspiration for our leaders.

The people of South Africa need to reclaim self-governance and give democracy meaning. It can be done.

Why not set up people's assemblies in each township, village, squatter camp and town and then force the SABC to be a public broadcaster and facilitate national debate?

We, the people would then vote on the options through sms technology. If Idols can do it, so can we!

It's really simple. We can debate and then vote "yes" or "no" on any important issue, such as the R17-billion given to IMF.

We can vote "yes" or "no" on whether Angie Motshekga should go! We can vote "yes" or "no" on whether we should give the ANC our mineral rights!

We can vote on whether to support the amazing proposal by the September National Imbizo that says it should be a criminal offence for politicians and public servants to use private services!

To expect politicians to serve the people is as foolish as expecting a crab to stop walking sideways!

Until people demand self-governance, we shall remain at the mercy of politicians.

Comments

Thu May 23 20:59:47 SAST 2013 ::
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Jun 26, 2012

Pipiekgolo

I will vote "yes" for a law that says it should be a criminal offence for politicians and public servants to use private services! Yes! Yes! Yes!
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Jun 26, 2012

BBK

I wil vote 'no' to second term,

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Jun 27, 2012

Mofida

I like your articles,you seem to be the only one who make sense,you call a spade a spade and i like that.
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Jun 27, 2012

Firefly

The sms-voting idea is fine but not very practical for issues that are this important. Sms-voting technology sucks, just ask Barbz. hehehe

At least you came up with a solution this time unlike your usual 'just-complaining'.
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Jun 27, 2012

MicaParis

Leading up to the Policy Conference we advised Comrade Jeff and Gwede to adopt a Policy that will pave adoption of a Legislation, through Constitutional amendment to enable the Majority of South Africans to elect leaders like the way they elect the Political Parties to vest all their given powers by the electorate on useless Cadres like Cele, Nyanda, Mahlangu Nkabinde, the late Siceka, Mathale, Mabuza, Block, Molewa and all other non performing Ministers like Pieterson and Xhingwana. Instead Gwede told us that we cannot do that as ANC is not a Public Enterprise but a Political Enterprise belonging to its Branches which will decide its future. But he did not answer my following two questions, Who is literally having mandate to put ANC in Power and Who does the ANC serve after attaining the given mandate by the General Electorate? We told him why as a majority party ANC cannot open its gate to the General Public? They keep on shutting the majority of voters out at the expense of useless Cadres like Julius Malema type of leaders who are arrogant and only hungry for money and deceit, do not get me wrong I am not saying Julius was not speaking sense sometimes I only give examples!! Zuma understood our stance for a moment before Gwede pass to another motion before we can finish.As academics in the ANC we do not have power to push our own agendas as we advise the Politicians accordingly and than they always take decisions which favors corruption and leadership assurance to themselves. If Political Contention can be opened to everybody in the ANC many Ministers will be outshines by Civil leaders and Academic heavyweights like Dr Mamphela Ramphela and Sir Richard Bryston and the likes of Sello Maake Ka Ncube, Mark Shuttleworth and Njabulo Ndevele and Raul Khoza to mention but a few and South Africa will be a very beautiful country if led by intellectually proven academically deserving citizens like this unlike useless ANC Cadres who are deployed specifically to loot and control tenders. I am saying this because I truly love this Organisation. We told Gwede and Zuma that: Will they be able to rig and rob the election if these 59 Million people who are voting for ANC can vote against them for another alternative Party they did not answer us!! I still say that vest the General Public with powers through Constitutional means to elect the following in a secrete ballot like the way we elect a Party, the list include:+ The President, Deputy President, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Premiers, MEC's, Heads of Portfolio Committees in Parliament and Provincial Legislature, Mayors, Speaker of Parliament and Chief whip as well as Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. That is the day we will see if leaders like Cele, Nyanda, Mahlangu Nkabinde, the late Siceka, Mathale, Mabuza, Block, Molewa and all other non performing Ministers like Pieterson and Xhingwana will pass that reasonability test to lead our People, we are not fools Gwede and let me assure you 59 Million Professors, Doctors, Degree Holders, Diplomas and Certificate Candidates will never ever be wrong for the sake of our beloved Democracy and Country. What you are doing will lead you to what happened to Renamo, National Party, The Bolsheviks, The Nazis and will probably end up like the American War of Independence, The French Revolution and ultimately the fall of Roman Empire. Why cannot you listen to the hand that feed you, It will be a disaster for the ANC if the General Public can turn its back on you, try to win the Public favor as soon as possible Comrades before the bomb explode on you one day during a certain General Elections!! Please Zuma respect the public they are the most distracting Pacific Ocean Waters that you cannot prevent should they submerge an attack on the ANC! You can talk about your Policies but what will happen to you if People did not vote for you? That will be futile and a useless foolish exercise!! A win for ANC might not be obvious in the coming ten years because of the evolution of the electorate in ten years time. Children who are born in 1990 does not know nothing about Vervoord and Pik Botha , the old crocodile!! so they can vote for Godzille or Mazibuko because baya hlesa and are Civilized, me and you are not sure Mr President and SG, PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT!! IF YOU THINK YOU WILL RIG THE ELECTIONS, RIGGING 59 MILLION VOTES WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT AND ULTIMATELY IMPOSSIBLE, OTHERWISE JUST LIKE MUBARAK AND GADAFFI THE PEOPLE WILL JUST COME IN VERY REMARKABLE HUGE NUMBERS TO UNION BUILDING AND REMOVE YOU SINGLE HANDED OUT OF THOSE PUBLIC OFFICES REMEMBER ANC ONLY SERVE THE GOVERNMENT IT DOES NOT OWN IT BUT IS OWNED BY THE PEOPLE WHO CAN REMOVE AND RETAIN SO THOSE BEAUTIFUL LUXURIOUS OFFICES IN UNION BUILDING DOES NOT BELONG TO ANC BUT THE PEOPLE PLEASE COMRADES THIS IS TRUE BE CAREFUL!!
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Jul 9, 2012

Pointman

They have it in their heads that the ANC will rule forever - therefore no urgency to perform on behalf of the people. The financial resources are available but the management capability is certainly not there. When tenders are awarded, they go to the politically connected and not the most capable.
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