Makhosi Khoza and co have Stockholm syndrome, sorry to say

Makhosi Khoza has been at the ANC for quite some time, banging on about Jacob Zuma’s lack of ethical and moral leadership.

She strongly canvassed for a vote of no confidence in him, along with some of her comrades, hoping against hope that Zuma would be deposed.

For this commitment she alleges that she had received numerous death threats – to the extent that she couldn’t attend the ANC’s disciplinary hearing against her last week.

And senior ANC stalwart Kgalema Motlanthe, in an interview with BBC Hardtalk’s Stephen Sackur, displayed an open disgust with the ANC.

He often struggled to find the words to describe how far the party had fallen under Zuma. He let it be known in no uncertain terms that the ANC needed to hit rock bottom before it would come to its senses. He implied that in its current state it was irredeemable.

Yet, both him and Khoza insist they are loyal ANC members, conceived and nurtured by this once-noble party, and will endure as members until the ANC transforms itself.

A worse form of Stockholm syndrome I have not seen. The “condition that causes hostages to develop a psychological alliance with their captors as a survival strategy during captivity” is the only form of life ANC members know.

Akin to abused children, battered women, war prisoners, cult members, incest victims, concentration camp prisoners and those in hostage situations, they should be pitied. Police negotiators often encourage those in crime situations to cooperate with their captors to improve their chances of survival.

“On the downside,” says author Dr JM Carver, “it also assures that the hostages experiencing Stockholm syndrome will not be very cooperative during rescue or criminal prosecution.”

That is why those who are disgusted with the ANC refuse to cooperate with other parties keen to free them from their lives of bondage. They know no other lifestyle and their entire livelihood depends on being a cadre.

Pravin Gordhan, Derek Hanekom, Barbara Hogan, Mcebisi Jonas and many others have suffered all kinds of humiliation, but they still feel morally superior to their political opponents, especially those in the Democratic Alliance.

This is typical of those suffering from the syndrome: “negative feelings by the victim toward family, friends, or authorities trying to rescue /support them or win their release”; and “inability to engage in behaviours that may assist in their release or detachment”.

We heard repeatedly from those within the party who actually detest Zuma that they could not afford to get rid of the president and hand what should be their victory to the DA on a platter.

Same goes for the hegemonic civil society movements. They still believe that some good can come out of the ANC.

So, they sit with eyes wide shut as South Africa’s key resources get transferred to Dubai, while they actually passionately detest their political captors, the Zuptas.

“We are plagued by a corrupt polity which promotes unlawful and/or immoral behaviour. Public interest has no practical significance in everyday behaviour among ruling factions. In the guise of public service, they use whatever comes to hand for personal gain. They are insane with and for power.” – Frank Herbert.

FILE PICTURE: Rhoda Kadalie, anti-apartheid activist.