After the ANC’s big bash for their centennial celebration, I was left with a profound sense of déjà vu. With no intention to sound like a complete cynic this sense of déjà vu was of the good kind...like when something goes right.
The obvious example is the soccer world cup, where our country rallied at all levels in society, and with the government (ANC) itself stepping up to the plate to show we really do clean up well, resulting in a tournament’s success that far exceeded the world’s expectations.
Fast forward to Bloemfontein 2012, granted this was by comparison, on a much smaller scale but successful all the same.
Like many South African’s I have slipped into a preconditioned mindset to expect the worst from our ruling party (call it the DA syndrome), and who could argue otherwise, we’ve been provided with plenty of examples and it seems the population’s once blind faith is starting to wane.
This is a mindset we need to challenge ourselves as a nation to change, of course call out those doing wrong, but at the same time praise those doing right as it’s the positive news that can build a country.
In Bloemfontein the ANC teased us once again, by showing us how thing can be, and should be. I don’t think the residents of Bloemfontein have been this happy since the Cheetahs won their last Currie Cup. The city is clean, roads are fixed, building look spotless, the police were up to scratch and the general atmosphere of the place seemed to perk up.
The show itself I believe was brilliant, I begrudgingly tuned in on Sunday just to have sneaky look and was greeted by a world class stage performance detailing the ANC’s past and struggle’s.
The celebration has certainly had many critics, as in it cost too much, it ‘drugged’ the supporters into forgetting their poverty etc etc.
I was one of them sure. But think about it. This is a revolutionary organisation that peacefully, let me say that again, that peacefully came into power. Looking at the continent’s, and even further afield across the globe, track record for ‘revolutionary’ movements one can honestly say this is far from the norm. And being a hundred years old is a big deal. Hopefully most of the funding came from donors and party funds sure, as R400mil from state coffers is a bit much. But credit where it is due, the ANC may be many things but they have played a big part in this country’s history and deserve to celebrate that.
Like many other South Africans out there I can only hope that they can build on their successes.
