Patricia de Lille's crusade against the African National Congress's alleged involvement in corruption in the R43-billion arms deal has given the ailing Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) a new lease on life, but it could cost the party in the long-run, according to political analysts.

The PAC desperately needs to maintain its public profile and De Lille, the party's firebrand, has done much to promote that. But her tactics could backfire against the party, the analysts say.

De Lille was the first to speak out about corruption in the arms procurement deal. Now her latest allegations are subject to investigations by the directorate of public prosecutions, the attorney-general and the public protector.

Dumisani Hlophe, a political analyst at the Centre of Policy Studies, said the trouble with the PAC was that it lacked vision and had become "a one-man party". "Patricia seems to be the only one who knows what's happening. For the sake of the PAC, they should guard against a tendency to build cult figures."

'We could not publicly denounce Patricia's accusation'

Hlophe said that instead of "trying hard to ride on the back of the ANC and portray itself as a worthy opponent", the PAC should be expressing itself "as the party it is supposed to be. Fighting to end poverty and unemployment."

As things stood, it ran the risk of being confused with the Democratic Alliance, "opposing the ANC merely for the sake of it", Hlophe said.

Some PAC leaders are also worried that the corruption allegations may backfire, as was the case with De Lille's outbursts in parliament three years ago when she accused six ANC leaders of having spied for the apartheid government.

"We were pitted against comrades, but we could not publicly denounce Patricia's accusation. When it became clear that the information was misleading, we were shamed. We may find ourselves in the same position," said one of the leaders, who requested anonymity.

Keith Gottschalk of the University of the Western Cape agreed. He said the trouble with De Lille was that she did not always verify her information before "delivering damaging accusations. In the long run this is hurting her party."  

With acknowledgement to Pam Dube and the Sunday Independent.