The ANC started very well in 1994, because the then leadership had a vision of where they wanted to take the “new South Africa”.
Corruption in the ANC, however, started in 1990, during the Codesa negotiations when some leaders received money from the captains of industry. From 1994, a few individuals also benefited from BEE, like President Cyril Ramaphosa, Tokyo Sexwale and Smuts Ngonyama, just to mention a few.
For the first two decades of governing the ANC was less arrogant and aloof. The arrogance started after Jacob Zuma was dismissed by former president Thabo Mbeki in 2005 and reached its climax when Zuma became president of the country.
Members of the ANC at the time called those who opposed Zuma’s election dogs and witches. Fikile Mbalula once told the late Professor Kader Asmal to find the nearest hole and go and die.
Nomvula Mokonyane in 2013 told the people of Bekkersdal on the West Rand that the ANC did not need their dirty votes. In 2014, Mokonyane also told the community of Bushbuckridge that the ANC would defend Zuma with whatever it had (Re tlo thiba ka dibono), as the attack was not on Zuma but on the ANC.
Early this year in May, Loyiso Masuku and MEC Faith Mazibuko ate chicken feet at one of the Gauteng townships for the sake of votes. This was pure arrogance and disrespect towards poor black people. Many ANC politicians are very insensitive as they use their feet to think.
When the ANC came power in great style in 1994, I was 42 years old and was very excited that the black government would look after its poor black people. But along the way arrogance took centre-stage and comrades started to behave as if they were “gods” endowed with exceptional skills and knowledge.
That arrogance finally plunged the country into chaos in July in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Many people lost their jobs because of the looting, and many were sadly also killed.
Those who were convinced to go out and loot are still living in the very same conditions. Those who incited looters are still enjoying their T-bones and lamb chops, washed down with expensive single malt whiskies in the comfort of their air-conditioned houses in the former white affluent suburbs with security guards at the gate 24/7.
During canvassing for votes earlier this year, ANC politicians pleaded with supporters to give them another chance to govern so that it could rectify its mistakes. What a lie. Watch municipalities where it has a majority to govern without a coalition, and see what is going to happen there in six to 12 months.
Past accomplishments are not a guarantee that people will continue to vote for a political party in big numbers like in the past. Zuma once said that the ANC will rule until Jesus Christ comes back. That was arrogant and disrespectful to the people of SA.
Many ANC members and supporters forget that many governments in the world have been removed from power by voters, and it could happen to the ANC in the near future. It might not be in 2024 or 2029, but the day will come..
Perhaps they can now throw away their cloak of pride as they were recently humbled by voters who did not come out in large numbers to vote for them during the November 1 municipal elections.
Let us hope they have learnt their lesson that arrogance could kill the most loved party in the country. I wish the ANC good luck in the 2024 national elections.
• Rikhotso is a Sowetan reader
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