Better the devil you know, than the devil you are petrified of

Recently someone influential told me that all he wants now is for the ANC to be removed from power. When I asked: “Who would be better?” his answer was “Anyone”.

Last week while watching the chaos unfolding at SONA, I thought about that comment – which, by the way, is not an isolated one.

To say that the ANC has messed up since the beginning of the Zuma presidency is a real understatement. Given the corruption and lack of service delivery during the last decade, they do not deserve to be in power again. However, Thursday’s drama was a clear indication of what could happen if the ANC is defeated at the polling booths.

Many people seem to think that at the next election it is a choice between Cyril Ramaphosa and John Steenhuisen, and if the ANC is no longer in power nationally that we will have some version of the Western Cape all over South Africa.

It is important to realise that this is not what will happen. Let’s leave John’s shortcomings aside and the fact that the DA is shedding votes as fast, if not faster than the ANC. The point is that the vast majority of voters in this country will turn to the EFF and not to the DA if they no longer want to vote for the ANC.  

So, it is actually a choice between Ramaphosa and Malema. I think we can all agree that if SONA is anything to go by, a Malema government is not a great option. 

Of course, the other alternative is the much-debated coalition governments. Yes, it is true that coalitions can be a good thing for democracies, but I have grave concerns about what that would mean for our country on a national level – particularly if we are to be governed by a minority government.

Minority governments are the result of a number of smaller parties coming together in order to govern. As we have seen in Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay, this can be extremely unstable and the impact this instability has had on service delivery in both those Metros indicates clearly that it could be disastrous nationally.

However, with the unnuanced anti-ANC and anti-Ramaphosa narrative in the country currently, very few people think rationally about the implications in the long term.

Another example is the criticism - bordering on hysteria - against the announcement of a Minister of Energy in the Presidency and the State of Disaster.

Undeniably, it is not a good thing to load the presidency with too many special ministers, nor should a State of Disaster be declared unless it is absolutely necessary.

However, can anyone deny that the state of electricity provision (or lack thereof) is a total disaster for our country? Of course, the State of Disaster was declared primarily to facilitate faster procurement – something the management of Eskom has been pleading for.

As we saw during COVID, this can open the way for corruption, which is why many people (including myself) have concerns about a State of Disaster.

Having said that, Ramaphosa addressed possible corruption during his speech and warned that it would not be tolerated. Many people laughed about his reassurance, but I think it is important to note that this is a different situation from COVID.

Firstly, COVID was unprecedented, not only in South Africa, but globally. (We are also not the only country that struggled with corruption during COVID procurements. Many, if not most, countries experienced it.) It is also important to note that unlike with COVID, the State of Disaster applies to the electricity sector only – not to the country in general.

Having exposed so much of the COVID-linked corruption, the government will be much more aware of the risk and monitor it closely. In addition, the thieves will know that they will not be spared if found.

It should also be said that MPs have of late stepped up to fulfill their oversight function. You only need to look at the video of the scathing criticism of Minister Lindiwe Sisulu by the (ANC) chair of the Tourism Portfolio Committee, to know that the gloves are off.

Naturally, during COVID very little of that could happen.

Will there be corruption again? Almost certainly, but hopefully between the media and a more alert government and parliament the perpetrators will be caught and brought to book.

There can be no doubt that we need to deal with loadshedding as a matter of urgency. I think the creation of a Minister of Energy (provided it is the right person) should be welcomed. It sends a clear message of the urgency with which the government is now dealing with the issue – albeit belatedly.

Frankly, I care far more that the issue is dealt with by a competent minister, than where this minister is situated.

Of course, the opposition parties will always criticize any proposal of the government. However, as the people of this country, we need to keep asking them questions such as what are the alternatives?

Because as a friend of mine recently said: “In politics at the moment it might be more a case of the devil you know versus the devil you are petrified of.”