As we wait in anticipation of the infamous January 8 Statement of the African National Congress, many of us wonder what the President has in stock for us. The New Dawn is real, and we are witness to its dynamics as power shifts back into the hands of the white minority through the privatization of state. There is little doubt that the President will talk about the risk of the ANC losing power in the next elections. He has already hinted that should the Communist Party go it alone in the 2026 local elections, the ANC will be left bleeding and could lose many key municipalities. Political analyst Dr Russon confirmed that “Losing the SACP as an alliance partner in the elections will seriously affect the ANC. This is because the communists have been key in organising on the ground. They work without regard to personal gains and benefits. Russon continued to say that the split between these two organisations has been long coming and it is now at a point where it is inevitable”. Asked whether the ANC can survive without the alliance partners especially the SACP, Russon said; “the ANC is a tried and tested organisation with a rich history. Yes it will be affected as we have seen what happened with the MK Party of Jacob Zuma but it will not perish. The worst thing that can happen to the ANC is that it would end up in the opposition benches but I do no think that it would be long before it returned to power. The story of the Sandinista in Nicaragua is a case in point”, he said.
MKP and the Zuma Sellout.
Asked about the MK Party and its impact on the ANC during the 2024 elections, Russon said; “many questions arise about the MK Party and its sudden emergence a few months before the elections. The irony is that the MK Party emerged after the DA’s Moonshot Coalition collapsed. AS soon as the MK Party emerged the Moonshot Coalition disappeared completely and this, I don’t think is coincidental. It looks like a well-fabricated plan. If the Mk Party was genuine in its attempt to take power, it would have taken power in KZN by going into coalition with the EFF and other smaller parties but this did not happen. Similarly, in Parliament the MK Party would have come together with the left-wing parties to form a strong opposition. Today we have no opposition party in our Parliament, and this begs a lot of questions about the intentions of Zuma and his MK Party”. Dr Russon worked in Special Operations of Umkhonto WeSizwe under Barney Molokwane during the liberation struggle. I posed the following question to him. Do you think that Jacob Zuma and his MK Party are sell outs and could have been used as a pawn to weaken the ANC? There was a long pause and with some discomfort in his voice he said; “Maybe not intentionally but the result speaks for itself. I know Zuma from the exile years in Maputo and the less I talk about him the better. He was my comrade”.
The GNU
The President is also expected to give an overview of the GNU in his January 8 Statement. The Government of National Unity is a coalition government, formed in June after the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years. It has ushered a renewed energy in our politics both in the positive and negative.
In the positive, it has boosted business confidence and influence in the affairs of state. Rating agency S&P revised South Africa’s outlook in November from “stable” to “positive”. Citing plans for accelerated economic reforms and a pickup in investments the S&P stated that since the formation of the government of national unity, debt yields and portfolio inflows have improved. This has resulted in easing financing conditions and currency strengthening. The greatest achievement of the GNU to date is the sudden abolition of electricity load shedding. Load shedding had become part of the ANC legacy over the years and they had tried everything in the book to resolve it to no avail. In a matter of weeks into government the GNU erased load shedding from the history book of South Africa and it is going so well that many people are starting to forget it ever existed. Was Botha correct when he said “black people can never rule this country alone”.
Ramaphosa is likely to touch on the following key points:
Business Confidence: The GNU’s commitment to economic reforms has bolstered business confidence. It is anticipated that GDP growth with be higher driven by new private sector-led initiatives in electricity supplies, railways, ports, and water.
Enhanced Political Stability: The coalition has brought together former political adversaries, fostering a more collaborative governance environment. This unity is reminiscent of the spirit promoted by Nelson Mandela in the 1990s and is promising to bring political stability and consequently economic growth.
Infrastructure Development Initiatives: This has consistently been the President’s concern. The GNU has prioritized infrastructure development, with a focus on energy, water, and transportation and by involving the private sector, the government aims to address funding limitations and expedite project completion, thereby improving service delivery and economic growth.
Improved Investor Sentiment: Since the GNU’s formation, there has been a notable improvement in investor sentiment. The South African Rand and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange have shown positive performance, reflecting increased confidence in the country’s economic direction.
Commitment to Addressing Unemployment and Inequality: Unemployment remains the biggest challenge of the GNU, and the President would not have done a good job if he omits this key point. The GNU has expressed a strong commitment to tackling the nation’s pressing challenges, including high unemployment rates and economic inequality. By promoting inclusive policies and economic reforms, the government aims to create job opportunities and reduce poverty levels.
