There is probably a weak case for a parliamentary opposition in this country if it is based entirely on the premise that only a parliamentary opposition can effectively test a government’s power and authority.
The Democratic Alliance’s election campaign centered on this argument and that’s why it may have been unconvincing to most of the electorate.
Equally unconvincing was the New National Party’s view that it could play a more positive role by working within the government.
The Inkatha Freedom Party was, until this election, in the government with the African National Congress for 10 years. It played an important role in influencing government policy in that time.
Members of the National Assembly work together in parliamentary committees, where legislation is discussed and refined, where compromise is sought and consensus reached. Of course the ruling party has the final say, but all parties get a hearing. For those who are concerned about whether democracy works, the committee system is reassuring.
But the wide range of political comment that is introduced to legislation through the committees probably makes little difference to the final laws — because of the diversity of views within the ANC itself. The ANC’s mass appeal cannot only be ascribed to its role in the liberation struggle. While that counts for a lot, the ruling party has a place in it for conservatives, liberals, moderates, capitalists and hard-line socialists.
This is an idealised view of the ANC, but it is far closer to reality than the image the party often presents as a monolithic structure, unforgiving towards its critics. If it is accepted that the ANC houses all political views, this must mean that the pundits of these views are free to express them. The ANC provides forums for the debate of divergent views and works towards consensus on policy.
The IFP has its roots in the ANC, and had there not been for a divergence in policy (and a bloody conflict), there is nothing in IFP policy that suggests it is an alternative government to the ANC. The shades that differentiate the policies of the two parties are probably no more than the result of subtle compromises in party forums.
All this tells me that the DA and the IFP already have their views represented in the ANC. This begs the question why they continue to exist. The answer is a political one, which has much to do with why politicians exist.
The polarising of politics, especially on the basis of racial fears and prejudices, undermines the progress we’re making to becoming the rainbow nation we want to be. It may well be past time that we realised there is room for opposition in the ANC itself.
Ben Temkin is a freelance writer and author of the book Buthelezi: A Biography