The ANC is a party at war with itself. A party grappling with the machinations of converting from a liberation movement into a modern political party in government. This has proved to be a huge challenge as the party also seeks to balance the fears and stubbornness of the old guard with the militancy and impatience of the young lions while keeping opportunists at bay.

The ANC as we knew it barely exists anymore. It is being killed by those who have no interest, respect and appreciation for the rich history and legacy that the movement carries. These people are hellbent on only enriching themselves at the expense of the once proud movement and the people of South Africa. Everyone now can see that we are on a downward spiral and on the verge of becoming another African failure but no, these people won’t stop. They won’t stop because they do not care about the South Africa, its people and the ANC itself.

The people I’m talking about are being attracted in droves into the ANC by the prospect of power and fortune that, it seems, comes with being in strategic positions in the movement. They don’t sleep at night going door to door lobbying who must go into which position, not because they are most suitable but because they can be managed or “they are one of us”. Some of them even decide who can join the ANC and who can’t. Most of these people have amassed incredible wealth overnight without being involved in any meaningful productive businesses. They use this money to corrupt the movement further and deepen the rot. The sad part is that most of them have absolutely no struggle credentials. They were too scared to join the movement when it didn’t pay to be a member, when it risked one’s life just to even be seen with known members of the movement. This is an insult to the general populace of the country that loyally votes for the ANC election after election. It is an insult to thousands who fought selflessly for the realization of the freedoms we enjoy today. For me, personally it is an insult the Futhane Dube (late), Phaphama Dube (late), Maskito Dube (late), Qhuzwane Dube (late), Zanele Dube (late), Thulani Dube, Queen Dube and Ntokozo Dube. These are my family members who fought, went to exile and some lost lives for the ANC and the people of South Africa and asked for nothing in return.

They have brought a state of paralysis within the movement and by extension the state apparatus. These paralysis starts at branch levels where one can’t even get membership forms to join the ANC without someone checking who you know, which faction that person belongs to. The ANC is being killed branch by branch where branch meetings hardly ever deal with local social issues, discussion papers and ANC matters anymore but deal mostly with who must fill which position and who must get which tender.

This rot has crippled the state apparatus at national, provincial and local spheres. You find a senior government cabinet minister, mec or mayor being told off by a young man simply because the young man feels he is more important and holds a powerful position within the movement. There is incredibly worrying levels of Ill discipline that undermines elected leadership of the movement and state.

These problems simply give the White Inc a perfect excuse to divert attention from the transformation agenda to the detriment of the general black population of the country. The White Inc, sees this as an opportunity to stall with progress and start questioning how the ANC can be trusted with the countries’ economy if they can’t even get their own house in order.

This rot has alienated a lot of true cadres of the movement and those that have not left on their own accord are being persecuted within. A few remain to fight the good fight but they are overwhelmed by the extent of the rot. For the lack of an alternative party that speaks to the needs of the majority of black people, most people simply choose to stay away. They don’t vote and they don not participate in political debates.

But all is not lost, I feel. It is a fact that black people hardly have an alternative to the ANC. So logic says that everyone that truly cares for the country must either form a political party founded on similar principles to those of the ANC and contest the elections or they must seek to change the ANC from within. I will not talk about the new political party route as this route has been shown not to COPE. There is still, within the ANC a lot of dedicated individuals with integrity and if the people swelled the ranks of the ANC in numbers and forced change from within then maybe, just maybe the ANC can be saved. If people in positions of influence in government can be brave enough to implement ANC policies as intended regardless of whether this makes them popular or not. If we can see the the fight against corruption being taken up and fought without fear or favour.

Change is needed now and our people’s loyalty should not be taken for granted.