ThandwayiZizwe Mthembu
CROSSFIRE
Much as Parks Mankahlana bemoans Sipho Seepe’s disregard for logic and facts (”Seepe disregards logic and facts”, Mail & Guardian, June 23 to 29), he exhibits a frightening lack of understanding of the inter- connectedness of proposition, logic, facts and their synchronicity. This understanding is required for designing acceptable proofs of his propositions. He (or should I say the presidency) also exhibits a shallow understanding of the responsibility of government and its ministers in charting strategic directions for our country, as opposed to simply doing disparate things for the sake of doing something.
Mankahlana also gives a twist to the South African rant that all criticism of black government is based on racism. The twist is that if the critic is black, and can therefore not be accused of being racist against a black government, then s/he must have been influenced by white racists. This has happened to Lizeka Mda, and it is now happening to Seepe.
To suggest that Seepe’s opinions necessarily belong to whites is an insult to blacks. It implies that blacks are a homogenous mob/group unable to hold multiple perspectives on issues. This may be true for the African National Congress, which seems to share only those thoughts that coincide with the presidency. But to extend this to the whole black community is extreme arrogance.
The concern raised by Seepe regarding consolidation and centralisation of power has little to do with white concerns. It has more to do with Africa’s own regrettable post-colonial history. It is based on years of dashed hopes, frustrated aspirations and misdirected efforts simply because African people trusted their governments too much.
Democracy is not what governments do to people, it is not a grant from government, it is something that people must possess in their productive activities through civil and political organisations. While delivery is important, it should not be at the expense of undermining the principle of participatory democracy.
Mankahlana appears to let the cat out of the bag with regard to the presidency’s discomfort with press freedom. If the media are indeed hostile to the government, why should there be a suggestion that President Thabo Mbeki’s personal hostility should manifest itself in curtailing the freedom of the press? All we can glean from this is that perhaps the presidency thinks constitutional provisions can be dispensed and withdrawn at its will, and in order to get at those it does not agree with. These are precisely the dangers that Seepe alludes to.
Mankahlana’s choice of Jesus and ”loyalty to one God” is a blasphemous support of Seepe’s proposition about premiers, for instance, who openly say whatever the president thinks is their thought too. It is still blasphemous even though he attempts to water it down. Even though Mankahlana claims ”we are the only liberation movement that has never splintered since the inception of national liberation movements”, he admits that ”the only distinguishable thing about the three gentlemen [Robert Sobukwe, Anton Lembede and Zeph Mothopeng] the president is called upon to honour is that they were part of a breakaway from the ANC …”. The contradiction shows that praise from the presidency is reserved for the party loyal. It is very sad when, in reference to Steve Biko, for instance, Mankahlana claims to be generous in his adulation, just because Biko is dead. In fact, he gives no adulation at all. Even without it, Biko will remain a beacon on which the ANC piggybacked to victory.
Mankahlana should read more about what Seepe and others have said about ”Africanness”. Who is an African will require more than mere declarations.
Yes, we must take the discussion forward, but we must all understand clearly the science, the art and the rules of interface between logic and fact in order to design less incorrigible arguments and interventions. We must also understand the deeper strategic role, much less the mundane short-term task execution role, that government has to play to uplift our society.
Mthembu is campus principal at Vista University (Welkom). He writes in his personal capacity