The political picture in the province is still dominated by the African National Congress and its allies, the South African Communist Party and COSATU. Alongside this Tripartite Alliance are the following parties: the Democratic Alliance, which leads opposition in the Northern Cape Legislature, assisted by the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Congress of the People. Outside of the Northern Cape Legislature are APDUSA, The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) and the Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) and lesser known groupings including district based organizations called forums. These forums do have an impact on the political situation in that some of them have managed to be elevated to being representatives of sections of communities where the ANC has been found wanting.
In addition to the above, a number of ANC community leaders have contested local government elections as independent candidates and some were actually elected as councillors.
The battle for control over workers is worth mentioning, given the fact that the South African Liberated Public Sector Workers Union (SALIPSWU), aligned to the new, militant South African Federation of Trade Unions, is challenging the related COSATU affiliated unions for the leadership of the affected workers. They have already made inroads into the civil sector and are busy recruiting Community Based Health Workers, who seem to be given the cold shoulder by the National Education and Health Workers’ Union (NEHAWU).
The National Union of Mine Workers has in the recent past been in the news for the right reasons, mobilising workers in the mining sector for wage increases and better working conditions. These struggles did not draw much attention and the community in general was not moved by this activity.
Factional battles within the ANC are at an all-time high, since the ushering in of a new Provincial Executive Committee. The current Premier, Sylvia Lucas and her hangers-on declined to stand for election at the Provincial Conference. This paved the way for the faction led by the former Secretary General, Zamani Saul to be elected as the new PEC. This took place amidst accusations and counter-accusations of vote rigging and, above all, the dominant newspaper story that millions of rand used for the conference reportedly originated from the Department of Provincial Treasury.
The Premier reshuffled the cabinet hours before the start of the ANC Provincial Conference and this was largely seen as a way of trying to destabilise the Zamdesh faction. This reshuffling did not last long because, subsequent to the conference, the new PEC called for another reshuffling of the cabinet to ensure that the newly elected members are included and those MECs who were removed are replaced. And the replacement of the sacked MECs was done quietly although the Premier refused to do so until the matter was referred to the ANC National Executive Committee, including undue pressure from the Provincial Executive.
The ANC musical chairs is continuing. It is never over until the fat lady sings. Another cabinet reshuffle was proposed by the ANC PEC, at the same time reiterating that the centre of power is not Government but the African National Congress. Two members were recalled from the National Assembly with a view to appointing them to positions in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, but this did not take place as smoothly as expected, because the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Alvin Botes refused to hand in his resignation. He was given an extension, which he did not honour. To add to the challenges of the PEC, the ANC Youth League called on the MEC to stay put.
All is not well within the African National Congress. The branches are in a state of disrepair and they have planned to have regional conferences, but the faction of the Premier League is opposed to the regional conferences. All in the name of being against vote rigging, corruption and so on and so forth. Regional Executive Members fight with each other not only verbally but end up exchanging physical blows , whilst the PEC and NEC looks on.
The courts are also brought in to assist in resolving these matters to the extent that the Provincial Conference is being challenged by the Premier league. The problem with this is that the population ends up being spectators waiting for the outcome instead of being involved in resolving issues that are affecting them.
A number of the ANC members are very disappointed and are at the point of checking as to whether their political positions are still relevant. And at the same time the APDUSA and the PAC are in the rebuilding process and people are becoming more tolerant in terms of reading and listening to different political viewpoints. The political landscape is definitely in favour of the left voices and if this opportunity is not optimally used, the next general elections will entrench the views and positions of the ANC, DA, EFF, etc, given the fact that when people get disgruntled with the ANC, they move to DA or EFF.
Therefore we must step up our propaganda machinery and not only limit ourselves to our newsletter but explore other avenues like publishing articles in the mainstream media as individuals, organize open meetings or viewing of films that will stimulate discussions amongst the oppressed.