Publication: Sunday Times
Issued:
Date: 2005-12-18
Reporter:
The
year 2005 has proved to be the toughest for the ruling African National Congress
an annus horribilis that has seen its authority challenged at its own midyear
conference and now in violent protests in township streets.
Arson,
assault and vandalism are indefensible and must be punished. By resorting to
these methods, protesters have slammed the door on any potential compromise on
the contested re-demarcation of 17 municipal boundaries.
But the
eruption of this violence is just one more demonstration of the poor crisis
management that also fuelled the mayhem arising out
of Jacob Zuma’s mishandled dismissal from the
Cabinet.
Instead of taking the concerns of the people of Merafong
seriously, the leadership of the ruling party has chosen to disown them and to
rubbish their cause.
The ANC Youth League has condemned militant protests
against the technical forced removal of Merafong to North West as “hooliganism driven by narrow self-seeking factional politics”
*1.
President Thabo Mbeki accused “people who pose as members of
this movement” of deliberately diverting attention from the fundamental concerns
of the masses.
Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi
simply told the people affected by re-demarcation that their interests were
subservient to the national interest.
There can be no doubt that the
cross-border municipalities created in the complex trade of compromises during
constitutional talks should be abolished. Having to seek approval from two
provinces for municipal decisions that require senior sanction is
unworkable.
But when the government launched the process of
re-demarcation in 2002, it promised consultation and transparency, which
communities fairly took to mean that their wishes would be taken seriously.
The government asked at the outset for substance rather than emotion in
the debate and that is what it got. Scores of submissions pointed out the
obvious disadvantages of having to commute much greater distances to gain access
to critical provincial services.
The people of Merafong appealed to be
allowed to keep their children under the authority of patently more efficient
health and education departments. At the time, Gauteng’s politicians agreed with
them.
The Demarcation Board also recommended that the municipality should
remain in Gauteng, but Mufamadi dismissed the advice and the ANC pressured
Gauteng’s representatives to toe the party line.
To reverse the
demarcation decisions now would vindicate those who put democracy on the line
with petrol bombs and stones. But this sad history highlights the danger of
subverting due process for political expediency.
If the government’s
commitment to consultation and transparency loses credibility with the people,
the fabric of ordered society will be irreparably torn. The ugly images of
Khutsong burning will become the norm.With acknowledgements to Sunday Times.
*1 Pol Pot calling the kettle
black?