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Is the ANCs revolutionary nomenclature becoming irrelevant?

 The African National Congress is officially still pursuing a National Democratic Revolution. When interrogated about what it ideologically stands for, except for the amorphous broad-church response, the most crisp answer is its pursuit of a continuous National Democratic Revolution whose end state is a National Democratic Society. 

 

The defining features of such a society are its non-racial, non-sexist, united, democratic, and prosperous character. The condition for such a society to exist has constantly been transferring political, economic, and social control power to the people. The characterisation of April 27, 1994, as a democratic breakthrough and the non-characterisation of 10 December 1996, as a day of the power to build a National Democratic Society, has arguably rendered the NDR still ongoing. 

 

Suppose the NDR is the basis of ANC ideology or the structure within which it goes about being ideological, as an amorphous broad church? The next question would be whether it is gaining strength and momentum as a national ideology. Is it enough to continue convincing society to associate with the brand ANC beyond its heroic role in defining the sacrosanctity of non-racialism, non-sexism, unity, democracy, and well-being of society as the defining features of RSA's constitutional order? Or has the ANC's continuous attachment to being in a National Democratic Revolution positioned it on a trajectory away from what the society it leads and modern reality expect from it, thus gradually losing relevance and momentum? 

 

In politics, nomenclature primarily defines the energies those who lead require to galvanise society towards set objectives. An articulate exposition of the endgame focuses followers on the social or otherwise purpose of being engaged. Given the balance of forces, it is always prudent to have an honest and strategic review of the next steps after every milestone in pursuing the endgame. This strategic review is crucial for the ANC's future direction. 


An audit of the extent to which South Africa has advanced in its struggle process to transfer political, economic, and social control power to the people reveals more success than failure. The legal granting of universal franchise, out of which the free election of public representatives into the political power architecture of South Africa is inarguably a transfer of political and social control power. Conditional to the defined majority thresholds, which would be indicative of the support of "we the people", can the capability of political power institute the transfer of economic power. 


To most of "we the people," economic power is more of a lived experience than political rhetoric. We define it as property ownership rights, employment to earn a living, reduced poverty levels, and eradicating inequalities that create artificial barriers to opportunities. 


The mounting contradictions between the exigencies of service delivery, ensuring a better life for all, the fulfilment of fundamental human rights, and the complex economic and political realities of having been in command of political power for the past three decades by the ANC begs the question, what 'revolution'? 


Evidence shows that assuming political power since 1994 meant entering into a system, and you could no longer antagonise but embrace it as a means to effect all the changes required to bring to bear the defining features of a national democratic society. The state should have been the revolution and not the object to be revolutionised. 


Is this not what renewal of the ANC should also be about if growing the ANC is the objective? Unless the discussion is more profound than the anti-state capture and anti-corruption ecdysis or renewal going on, the outcome of the process might plunge the ANC deep into the Zone of irrelevance. The situation is grave, and it requires a profound discussion about the future of our organisation. Along with investing in its members who influence "we the people", the ANC should make critical investments in its organisation infrastructure and scientific research and provide resources for the redefinition of its true ideological intents beyond its historical torments. 


This post is written to colleagues within the ANC. It seeks to generate an honest discussion about the organisation's true state. The substrate is weak for the task. Can we regroup and reconcentrate? CUT!!!

 

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