OPINIONISTA: A curate’s egg of an election By Ronnie Kasrils
As the curate said, assessing a none-too-fresh boiled egg at breakfast: ‘It was good in parts.’
After being elected six times running, with a decreasing majority, the ANC with 57.5% of the vote has thanked the electorate for giving it a “second chance”. Ramaphosa, as a one-time trade union leader, Lonmin Board member and billionaire businessman, has lifted the ANC from that 53% low to the 57% mark.
The political centre has been dominant for several elections and might have clear differences in many respects, but both the ANC and DA, despite representing different race and class interests, accept the neoliberal global economic system despite the leftist rhetoric of the former and the clearer privatisation, anti-union thrust of the latter.
Relying on direct foreign investment by business instead of industrial policy with teeth to reinvigorate production, giving rise to economic modernisation with jobs, and redistribution instead of austerity, will spell certain failure and greater impoverishment of the masses. Clearly, the EFF has made great inroads into the ANC vote and I would say that accounts for a good percentage of previous ANC voters that have floated to the red berets. Unless the working class and socialists get their act together it is the EFF which will in future draw more support away from the ANC.
Indeed, Saftu leader Zwelinzima Vavi by all accounts was barely consulted and not taken fully on board. Its feeble showing is a huge setback for socialists. Unless it acts seriously and honestly to admit its shortcomings and outlines a different strategic approach with sustained practical work on the ground, rather than revolutionary phrase-mongering — a sure sign of self-delusion — this disastrous result will give rise to immense disillusionment.
Any form of election can be dismissed as rigged or inconsequential by vainglorious egoists and jackasses who claim they represent hundreds of thousands and have a pathetic number of votes cast for them.
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