Marthinus van Schalkwyk
THE forthcoming federal congress of the National Party symbolises a party which must accept important challenges to maintain its indispensible role in South African politics. It is a party which — after more than 40 years – – has, for the first time, had to undergo the traumatic experience of losing power.
The NP congress must not be seen against a background of a party which wishes to cling to power at all costs. It must be seen as the first step in a process of building a party which bases its political philosophy on:
* Traditional (Christian) values within the context of freedom of religion.
* Action against crime and unemployment.
* A free market economy with as little as possible state intervention and regulation.
* A constitution based on federal principles.
The congress will illustrate that the NP does not and will not stand in the shadow of any other party. We will have to initiate the process of bringing other parties, which concur with our political philosophy, close together. The ANC has succeeded in building a “broad church” on the socialist/social democratic side which, notwithstanding internal tension, is not about to split.
The process of building a political movement based on our philosophy as against that of socialism/social democracy has everything to do with the healthy rivalry of ideas and posing alternatives to ensure a democracy. This includes co-operating in the country’s interests with political groups which are not socialist/social-democratic.
The NP congress will also place matters of topical interest on the national agenda. The great disadvantage of the present government of national unity (GNU) set-up is that it hobbles public debate between the strongest parties and shifts debate from the public domain to the closed cabinet chamber.
An analysis of the motions and points of discussion show that NP supporters want the following issues on the agenda:
* Bringing back the death penalty under certain circumstances.
* Courts refrain from making bail so easily available for serious criminals.
* The psychosis of strikes which is harming the economy be ended.
* Abortion on demand not be legalised.
* Ensuring educational standards not be jeopardised.
Congress will be an indication of the state of mind of NP supporters. After an initial period of adaptation to a new role, there is ever increasing commitment to the role of constructive opposition. Congress will be a measure of the NP’s adaptation to the role of constructive opposition not only in its criticism, but also by posing alternative policies. Great emphasis will be placed on policy frameworks which will form the basis to be used by our representatives in the GNU in formulating policies to- gether with other parties.
These have been formulated by a number of working groups over several months, and will be submitted to congress. These policy frameworks include education, safety, security, constitutional matters, the economy and the reconstruction and development programme. They are so formulated that they not only clearly spell out the NP’s policy, but that they also create scope for negotiation for our representatives in the GNU.
The NP has successfully expanded its support base in all other communities with the exception of the black community where we attracted little support in the election. One major challenge will be to address this issue in a committed way. All of us must guard against political parties, be it the NP, the ANC or the Inkatha Freedom Party, just becoming flag-bearers for limited ethnic interests. The NP can do it. In the interests of the country, it must succeed in obtaining a broad power base with a modern agenda based on our political philosophy.
We must provide an alternative to the ANC in its present form. If we don’t we will be faced with all the consequences of a de facto one-party state, however benign, and the absence of constructive democratic debate.
Marthinus van Schalkwyk is an NP MP and the party’s director of media and information
A man of principle: Yossel Mashel ‘Joe’ Slovo. Born May 25 1926; died January 6 1995