I would like to present another critical perspective on the matter.
In doing so I will go back to the immediate past in order to bring some bit of background/perspective. I will try to avoid names and proceed on the assumption that we all know the general politics of the country and the prominent participants. Briefly , my perspective is that politics is not a forum for the idealist but for pragmatists and opportunists - whether you may view them in a negative or positive angle or love them or hate them - that does not matter- it will never be part of the equation. The story began with the outcries from the Labour Federation Leadership and the Party that the then President of the country was making unilateral decisoins in terms of the development and implementation of policies and running the country without consultation with other alliance partners. The then President responded and said that the ANC was in power (and still is in power) and it would run the government as it deems fit -that the ANC was not obliged to listen or implement what the alliance partners suggested. The then President took a firm stand on these issues. The now defunct Scorpions, who reported directly to the office of the Presidency, "stumbled" across information that implicated the current President of the ANC and Country in some alleged corrupt and/or criminal activities. This presented the then President and his allies with the opportunity to implement their political ambitions of ensuring that the Deputy President would not become the president of the ANC and the country for so many reasons that I cannot mention here. The Chief of the Scorpions then called a private "off- the-record" assembly of reporters and others, and in that forum, he assumed the role of the prosecutor and judge and made a judgement call that although there was a "prime facie case" of corruption and other many criminal activities against the deputy President , there was no sufficient evindence to get a conviction. In doing so, he implemented the first step of a political conspiracy aimed at condemning the then Deputy President of the ANC and the Country, into the wilderness. This obviously presented the Alliance Partners with an opportunity of getting back of the the President, and in turn started plotting his down fall and that of his allies. The plot was to oust the then President and install the current one. The Alliance partners started mobilisng all sorts of support for the Deputy President and adopted a Trojan Horse Strategy - using the person of the Deputy president as a rallying point( ram rod) to oust the President and his allies. The installing the Deputy President was not based on any political or ideological principle , but on premise that , by installing the Deputy President as such, they will be in a position to use him to further their political interests , as a political group or for politcal personal gains. That remains to be seen comrades. In the Background, I suppose that The Party was busy studying the situation and interpreted the events as providing an opportunity for the Party to assume political power by occupying influencial government positions in order to implement worker friendly policies and programmes or further their personal political ambitions. That remains to be seen comrades We must bear in mind that those who supported the Deputy President are not necessarilly united by ideological positions or politcal ambitions. However, there are those who may be capitalist/national democrats or socialist/communist or social democrats and ordinary workers and intelligencia. (See the Party's discussion paper on " The SACP and State Power")the conclusions/resolutions of which are being implemented now. It is in this light that the calls made by Vavi and supported by some Party officials for the current President to go for the second term in office should be understood. Let us not think that we are driven by the same political agendas/ambitions. Whether this is correct or not will be an issue for another debate. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of KGALE GODFREY MAILA Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 6:19 PM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: [YCLSA Discussion] Re: YCLSA STATEMENT ON COSATU'S CALL FOR PRESIDENTJACOB ZUMA'S SECOND TERM Fully agree with you Cde Mdu, look you expalined in details and i hope every student of this university has taken time to go through. It should, however, moreover, be emphasised that the call of COSATU in itself is very devisive, ill-timed, unnecessary, ill-tought, pathetic and at its ugliest best very out of order. Why YCLSA support it is something one is still wondering, let us be focused, avoid cheap media popularities, this include the leadership of YCLSA. Funky >>> [email protected] 06/09/09 12:18 PM >>> Cdes, Let me enter the debate in another angle. I agree that the issue was raised too early. I also agree that COSATU is not in a position to prefer or choose for the ANC its leadership. I also agree that the ANC has its own members and own branches to discuss leadership but one cannot leave media to debate the issue. It is on the table now and further supported by the YCLSA (uFasimba), thus should be debated. President Zuma was born on the 12th of April 1942. He is currently 67 years of age and will be 72 years old in 2014. This age tells of a cadre who dedicated his life in the revolution but that shall not be escalated to an abuse of his commitment. We shall be discussing who will be the Deputy President because the tradition of a deputy to the highest office has been created in Polokwane thus Cde Kgalema shall take over in 2012. Gramscii once warned of the battle of the old and the new. When the old remains in power, the new gets impatient and develop ways of taking out the old. In this instance, I believe President Zuma shall serve one term both in the ANC and the country before the new gives him an un-ceremonial departure. We need to encourage the issue of resting, unlike in Gabon where President Omar Bongo (May his soul rest in peace) has led since the age of 32 until his death at the age of 73 and remained Africa's longest serving president for 41 years. President Zuma became the ANC and Country's president at the age of pension in South Africa and his term shall be decided as such. With Tata Mandela, it was a different issue, even though he wanted a rest, the revolution needed him at the age of 76 to emerge as the country's first democratic president. His powers were reduced when the Mafikeng conference gave more powers to the ANC president who at that time was 55 years of age. Psychology has it that when a person gets old, his mental capacity declines its function. Do we need an old president who will unconsciously make mistakes that will cost the country and in part the alliance? The actions and behaviour of Mugabe has more to do with his age than his vision. I wish the discussion on President Zuma's term be closed solely on the basis that the time factor might compromise the country and its people. We need energetic presidents like he currently is now but I doubt if this energy will be sustained until 2019. Or is it that COSATU is managing a political crisis that might manifest as a result of President Zuma's unavailability to hold office in 2012. I am made to believe that certain statements are made for political management, if this is one, then there is no issue. I pause!!!!! Mduduzi Herman Vilakazi Internal Auditor Dept of P/Works, Roads and Transport Mpumalanga Province Tel: 013 766 8280 Cell: 083 357 4849 Fax: 086 544 3205 >>> sipho shandu <[email protected]> 6/9/2009 9:16 AM >>> Cadre, I should be angry when comrades like Vavi interfere in the democratic processes of the ANC. They are going to their conference and we as the ANC are not saying anything. My question is why should they interfere in matters of the ANC? The fact we are an alliance does mean we have to meddle in each others' business! Im out! On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 8:47 AM, Malgas, Nicholas <[email protected]> wrote: You are very angry comrade and that makes me worried as this is just a view which indeed should go through the structures of the ANC to decide whether he should go for a second term. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of sipho shandu Sent: 09 June 2009 07:54 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [YCLSA Discussion] Re: YCLSA STATEMENT ON COSATU'S CALL FOR PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA'S SECOND TERM Cadre Samora and cadre Sakhile, I must however say that i am very dissapointed at cadres who think they can say whatever they want at any given point about an organisation guided by policies and principles li ke the ANC. When COSATU says that they want cadre Zuma to be president until 2019 they are contradicting themselves as well as the wishes of cadre ZUMA! Prior to the elections Zuma said that he would only stand for one term and thereafter make way for an incoming president of the ANC. Vavi must just get his house in order. One moment he is striking and the other moment he is speaking about a succession plan. What is he on about? What we should focus on right now is the issues of service delivery and beating the financial meltdown crisis we currently faced with. Let me pause cadres! On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 6:14 PM, sakhile msane <[email protected]> wrote: Well said comrade Samora I think the point you've just made is quiet clear, let us first focus on the current issues at hand such "service delivery" and based on what we see as the results then we as the masses can decide whether we re instate him back to power based on the results he has delivered during his tenure. The struggle continues, Amandla !!! Sakhile Msane On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 6:28 AM, Samora Sello<[email protected]> wrote: > Comrades, > > > > Though one fully supports this call for President Jacob Zuma to avail > himself for a second term, one wonders whether it is not premature at this > stage, when there are so many other pressing issues to impress upon him. It > would seem to me that given the newness of our current government, the work > to consolidate all the changes within government structures and the many > challenges ahead that this government will face as far as implementation is > concerned (specially in the wake of the global financial crisis), it would > be prudent to ensure and assist with the realization of the current mandate. > > > > This call should and would then made at the right stage as the would > inevitably be a need for continuity. I do believe that we need to first and > foremost protect this new dispensation and assist to portray it is one which > is about service and not "power". I watched JZ answering this question > yesterday and felt that this call compromising the new agenda and focus on > which is implementation. it has never been about him per se but about what > he stands for which is primarily a kind of leadership that allows all voices > to be heard and consensus building not only within the alliance but the > south African society as a whole . > > > > We must work to ensure that the policy pronouncements and resolutions from > Polokwane are realized and the call for a second term will not only be > forthcoming from the progressive forces but also from the masses as well. > > > > I stand corrected!! > > > > Samora > > ________________________________ > > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Castro Ngobese > Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 2:40 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [YCLSA Discussion] YCLSA STATEMENT ON COSATU'S CALL FOR PRESIDENT > JACOB ZUMA'S SECOND TERM > > > > YCLSA statement on COSATU's call for President Jacob Zuma's second term > > 08 June 2009 > > The Young Communist League of South Africa [uFasimba] supports the COSATU's > call for President Jacob Zuma to avail himself for the second term as the > ANC and state President. > > We are interested in the ANC leadership because we want a leadership that > will build and respect the Alliance. We will only stop being interested in > the ANC leadership once the Alliance is over. As long as the Alliance is > still intact and we are expected to mobilise and organise for the ANC > electoral victory during elections as one of our key common programme to > retain the ANC alliance in the state, our interest in the ANC leadership > will remain unchanged. As independent, albeit inter-dependent strategic > allies, we influence each other, and therefore there is no contradiction > between our views on the ANC leadership and the ANC's org anisational > autonomy. > > It is our view that the ANC leadership under President Jacob Zuma has shown > significant respect for the Alliance and the ANC itself. Notwithstanding a > number of challenges in the conceptualisation and implementation of the > reconfigured Alliance, particularly in some provinces, Allies relations have > significantly improved since the 2007 ANC National Conference in Polokwane. > > Our experience in the last 15 years has taught us that we can no longer be > spectators in the theatre of class struggle within the ANC when some people > are plotting day and night to capture the ANC for their own narrow BEE > elitist interests which have nothing to do with what the ANC stands for. We > should also make it clear that our support for the ANC cannot be > unconditional. We will continue to support a working class bias ANC in > practice * nothing else! > > We are also aware that there are those who are not opposed to the ANC > President leadership as such, but cannot wait to be ANC officials as soon as > possible. Whilst affirming their rights to stand for any position, we just > want to signal to them that we do not agree with them. It is too early for > them to start wetting their appetite for power. > > We urge those who disagree with us on this question to come out and disagree > with us on substance. And stop concealing their views under bureaucratic and > procedural arguments which hinge on when and who should raise this question. > We do not need political referees to tell us when to air our views on any > matter. > > We also note the growing attack on the SACP Chairperson and ANC Secretary > General * Gwede Mantashe by social forces within society and the ANC itself. > Notwithstanding our healthy differences with him as a leader of the ANC, we > would like to re-affirm our confidence in him as the ANC Secretary General > and will urge him to avail himself for the position of the ANC Secretary > General. > > Clarity on these matters will enable all of us to focus all our resources > and energies on building our organisational and state capacity to implement > our electoral mandate. > > We will agitate and mobilise our structures including our ANC on these > matters. > > Issues by YCLSA Head Office > > COSATU House > > 1 * 5 Leyds Street, Braamfontein > > Contact: > > Castro Ngobese > > YCLSA National Spokesperson * 082 567 3557 > > This message is subject to certain restrictions and qualifications which are > contained in our email disclaimer which is available on our website at > www.edcon.co.za/Edcon/Disclaimer or from the Group Secretary on (011) > 495-6000. > > The disclaimer also provides our corporate information and names of our > directors as required by law. > > The disclaimer is deemed to form part of this message in terms of Section 11 > of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002. > > P Please consider the environment before printing this email and/or any > related attachments > > > > > > -- Sakhile Msane cell: + 27 711408565 ph: +27 35 7964469 Volkswagen of South Africa (Pty) Ltd. 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