/ 12 October 2012

ANC cadres not critical, just voting cows

Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile.
Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile.

But the current cadre of the ANC is just a voting cow. Political education ended on Robben Island.

Will the ANC cadre interrogate why the state is spending more than R200-million on President Jacob Zuma’s private residence when not every schoolchild in Limpopo has a textbook? That R200-million could be spent on improving learning in Limpopo or building schools in the Eastern Cape.

Will the cadre question why Zuma has delayed the discussion of the ministerial handbook, which allows ministers to buy expensive cars?

When the Mail & Guardian and City Press publish details about how the state will pay for Zuma’s homestead, the minister of public works wants to shoot the messenger.

Can the average ANC branch see this as problematic and begin to ask why Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki did not build themselves houses with bunkers, a helipad and a clinic?

Singing, populism, vulgarity, intimidation and lies are used in the battle to put their leader in front. The ANC’s one million members are a case of quantity, not quality. – Nat Kodisang