The ANC is in dire straits, but what are our alternatives?

Former Urugyuan President Jose Mujica, fondly known El Pepe was generally regarded as the world’s most humble head of state, a far cry from where our leaders are today.

Last week, I raised the possibility of a new economic model. It clearly struck a raw nerve. Many agreed with me, but others - possibly those who stand to lose a fraction of their millions – were outraged. I was even accused of being a communist and socialist. (Really? I thought we had buried the “rooi gevaar” rhetoric with apartheid.)

This week, I stumbled onto the Netflix documentary: “El Pepe: A Supreme Life” about former Uruguayan President Jose ‘Pepe’ Mujica. Now this guy is a real socialist.

Mujica was imprisoned for 14 years during the military dictatorship in the 1970s and 1980s. After he left prison, he remained active in politics and served in various capacities in government. In 2009, he won the presidential election and served as president of Uruguay for five years.

The freedom fighter, ending up in jail and eventually becoming president, is of course familiar to us. What really moved me, however, was how Mujica (or Pepe, as he is lovingly known) lived - and still does.

He was generally regarded as the “world’s humblest head of state”.  He insisted on driving or being driven in a light blue 1987 Beetle. He said it ran well, was cheap to maintain and as an old man, he did not need to go anywhere fast. What a contrast to our blue light brigade. (I once counted 12 cars in former President Zuma’s cavalcade).

Mujica also donated 90% of his salary and declined a pension saying that others needed it more. Throughout his presidency, he lived humbly (almost to the point of squalor) on a small piece of land his wife owns and farmed cut flowers (“because the rich will always buy flowers”). Is it any wonder that he was so deeply loved by his nation?

While I was watching this documentary, I was “double screening” – also keeping an eye on the ANC Eastern Cape’s provincial conference on my phone. It wasn’t that distracting since it took them almost two days to simply adopt the credentials. Sigh!

However, with El Pepe on one monitor and the ANC on the other, I suddenly remembered the consternation it caused when Madiba’s announced in 1994 to the ANC caucus that he was going to take a cut in salary.

Watching the documentary on Mujica, it was easy to see the similarity between these two men and their lack of attachment to possessions and wealth. This was also true of the ANC of the 1990s. Like El Pepe, it was a party of people with strong principles. People who believed in a country where all her people could be equal and prosperous. People who, like Madiba, were willing to make do with a little less so others could have a little more.

How did that dream turn into such a nightmare? 

Greed - pure greed.

I want to be clear that I don’t think everybody should necessarily live like Mujica. I certainly don’t want to. However, there is a difference between being comfortable – even well off  - and opulence or obscene riches. Thus, my question of last week (also to the ANC leaders): “How much is enough?”

Is your lack of awareness around this not the main reason you are losing electoral support?

Many people are starting to put champagne (or Castle Lagers) in the fridge at the idea of the ANC losing power. With all that has happened over the last decade it is difficult to argue why the ANC still deserves to be in power – certainly in most democracies with a credible opposition they would have been rejected at the ballot box by now.

However, the question remains what happens then, and will it be better?

I nearly choked on my oats last week when I saw some people suggesting John Steenhuisen could be the next president - presumably by creating a minority government if the ANC’s support falls below 50% in 2024.

Eh, no!

First of all, the numbers will not work – at least not in the foreseeable future. Even if ANC support does fall below 50%, they will surely get other parties like the IFP, or independents to come over to them.

Secondly, even in the extremely unlikely event that the DA could convince the EFF to join a DA coalition, the EFF would never agree to a Steenhuisen as president.

Thirdly, the country would explode if we got another white male as president.

Fourthly, the DA is losing voters as fast as the ANC. Having lost many or most of their credible black leaders they will struggle to get black support. They have also lost a huge component of the Afrikaans voters – both white and coloured. So, a DA president (with or without burnt out tanks in the background) is not on the cards.

Far more likely is a big growth in support for the EFF – especially if they can get the youth vote mobilized. Still, it would take an effort of gigantic proportions to even double their support.

As much as I agree that the ANC is in dire straits, it is hard to see an alternative for the country with the current configuration of parties in our country.

I have said before, the time is (over) ripe for a new political party – with leaders who have strong moral values and want to serve the people from their (metaphorical) blue Beetles.  

That doesn’t seem to be on the cards.