'Struggle to define ANC'

2008-08-28 14:04

Cape Town - The new leaders of the ANC are scrambling to fix the party's image ahead of elections next year, but a clash of views shows it faces a battle to speak with one voice, analysts said.

A flurry of activity recently has seen African National Congress heavyweights hold frank meetings about its policies with minority groups and businessmen, with a rare acknowledgment of shortcomings in the party.

However, the personality of the former liberation movement appears to have split as it sends out conflicting statements, analysts said.

"The problem is they are speaking in so many different voices, all the various components are expressing their own views and these are contradictory. It's really more a confusion than any kind of strategy," said Robert Schrire, head of the political science department at the University of Cape Town.

In recent weeks some leaders have defended the independence of the judiciary, while others attacked it in defence of their graft-accused party chief Jacob Zuma, who faces a trial next year as the country heads to the polls.

There has been scant condemnation from party leaders on fiery statements from staunch Zuma backers declaring they would "kill" for him and that nothing will stand in the way of their man becoming the country's next president.

"While you have these positive messages you also have the negative messages coming from leaders who feel the party, their leader - Jacob Zuma - is under siege."

'Not ANC policy'

The new leadership of the ANC was elected at a conference last December where the populist Zuma toppled the current head of state, Thabo Mbeki, in an acrimonious battle.

The ANC, which has ruled the country since coming to power after the demise of apartheid in 1994, recently dispatched new party deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe to smooth relations with the business community.

In a meeting with white Afrikaans-speaking businessmen and industry leaders last week, Motlanthe addressed key issues, attempting to explain ANC policy which he said "doesn't change simply because there has been a change of leadership".

He said an independent judiciary was key, contradicting party secretary general Gwede Mantashe and others who recently called the country's top judges "counter-revolutionary".

"Of course there are individuals who are very angry about this and that who then make statements - this is not ANC policy."

Motlanthe also said the ANC would not amend the country's constitution for "nefarious reasons", amid speculation the party may do so to prevent a sitting president from being prosecuted to protect Zuma once he is elected.

Motlanthe caused excitement by suggesting the policy of affirmative action - seen as responsible for a massive skills shortage in a country where a vast majority still don't have access to proper education - may be phased out.

Political analyst Adam Habib of the Human Sciences Research Council said the ANC's efforts to appear more open and inclusive was partly a charm offensive to placate investors about the prospects of a Zuma presidency.

Obvious contradictions

"They are sending a signal to the markets, saying 'don't panic'. The last thing they want is to come into political office and suddenly you have a complete collapse in the markets."

But the ANC's new leadership has been elected "on the basis of the promise that it would be more responsive to the rank and file of the party", said Aubrey Matshiqi, political analyst with the Centre for Policy Studies.

They have to answer to 43% of the population living under the poverty threshold, the 40% who are jobless and the millions without decent housing.

In the face of these obvious contradictions, "foreign investors, domestic investors, people who are concerned about the future, are not going to be able to distinguish who speaks for whom", said Schrire.

- AFP