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‘Different cast, same script,’ says analyst on ANC MPs’ conduct

todayFebruary 14, 2024 46

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Political analyst, Professor Sam Koma, says the conduct of some ANC Members of Parliament at the 2024 SONA debate leaves much to be desired.

He has labelled their attitude as sheer arrogance.

Two worlds collided in the National Assembly yesterday where MPs debated President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address, which was delivered last Thursday.

He told a fictional tale of the child of democracy ‘Tinstwalo‘ who benefitted from the government’s education and empowerment policies over the last 30 years.

ANC MP, Sylvia Lucas, sent shockwaves across the nation after telling fellow MPs that load shedding is not the end of the world.

A comment that has been widely criticized by citizens, who are frustrated by the rolling blackouts that go on for up to 10 hours a day, negatively affecting water supply; crippling businesses and creating a conducive environment for criminals to thrive.

Some South Africans have slammed Lucas for her utterances, saying she is out of touch with the realities that citizens face daily.

Cadre deploymentย 

ANC National Chairperson and MP, Gwede Mantashe, used the debate to defend the governing party’s cadre deployment policy.

Responding to a Constitutional Court ruling that the governing party make public all records relating to its cadre deployment committee, Mantashe told MPs that they will furnish the DA with the cadre deployment documents they seek, but that won’t stop the ANC from implementing its policy, which he says, has transformed the public sector, including SOEs.

“Run to court, do everything, but the reality of the matter is, we will do it, you will get your report but we will continue to deploy people who are capable, that’s it.”

The minutes show the party’s deployment committee decides on individuals to be deployed in the public sector, including at Chapter 9 institutions.

The ANC has until Monday to surrender the minutes.

Koma agrees with some South Africans, who believe that the governing party is out of touch with the experiences and plight of the masses.

He says citizens are struggling to keep their jobs because of load shedding, while some have lost employment as businesses couldn’t keep up with the power cuts.

“It is evident that the ANC MPs have not learnt anything from the past conduct of other fellow ANC leaders who showed a disdainful attitude towards ordinary people.”

Koma was referring to the ANC’s Nomvula Mkonyana who left protesting residents in Bekkersdal fuming after telling them that the ANC didn’t want their “dirty votes” in 2013.

The scholar also touched on a similar case in 2004, where then ANC spokesperson, Smuts Ngonyama, said he did not join the struggle to be poor.

He says we are seeing the same behaviour from the current ANC leaders.

While the story of ‘Tintswalo’ dominated the debate yesterday, DA John Steenhuisen labelled the post-apartheid fictional character’s story as a sad reality.

Steenhuisen told Members of Parliament that watching the President sing praises of a country that no longer exists, made all South Africans more resolute that this is the year the ANC must be removed.

The debate continues today with the President scheduled to reply to the MPs debate tomorrow.

Written by: Lindiwe Mpanza

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