OPINION: Is this the beginning of the end of the ANC?
Resident predicts the 2024 general elections will be the beginning of the end of the governing party as we know it.
• Thabile Mange writes:
In 2024, South Africa will hold general elections. The forthcoming elections might bring about significant change in the political landscape. They might introduce coalition politics at the national level and independent candidates.
That said, the Sunday newspapers reported about the ANC’s financial dire straits. Over the past few years, the governing party struggled to pay its employees because of a lack of money. Its employees had to picket and demonstrate demanding their unpaid salaries.
A few years ago, the ANC employed the services of a certain company to do its elections placards. It is yet to pay that company, which took the political organisation to court. The court has ruled in favour of that company. The political party might lose its headquarters Luthuli House.
To add salt to injury, donors have deserted the governing party – and are pumping money into the opposition. That means Ramaphosa’s party does not have enough money to run next year’s elections. Without financial resources, it will be difficult for it to run a successful election campaign.
According to media reports, most of the ANC branches have collapsed. That’s a red flag. In addition, volunteers, who are the party’s footsoldiers, are reluctant to campaign for the party. Who is going to do the door-to-door campaign for the political organisation?
The above diminishes the ANC’s chances of winning next year’s elections. Therefore, it may assume the official opposition position, if not rescued by a coalition partnership/s. Is it ready to occupy the opposition benches? Only time will tell.
The pertinent question is: Should the ANC lose elections and become an official opposition, what will happen? President Ramaphosa will resign as a party leader. His deputy Paul Mashatile will then lead the ANC both in Luthuli House (if it will still be there) and in parliament.
After that, the ANC will never recover. It will bleed members to other political parties and lose elections. In other words, it will be the beginning of the end of the governing party as we know it.
