Rabelani Dagada – I put it to you that the ANC is not just tribalist party, but is also a party predominantly concerned with black African supremacy. Many African nationalists within the ANC believe that the black African comrades are superior than comrades from other racial groups. They further believe that African black cadres should have a control on the resources of the State. It seems as if their attitude is: “It’s our turn to chew”. Zulu nationalists within the ANC are agitating for a 20 Year Project. They argue that Xhosas (Nelson Mandela and Mbeki) were at the helm of the government for 15 years and thus they should hold the presidency of the ANC and the Republic for 20 years. However, Cyril Ramaphosa, who was once reportedly described as Venda dog by one of the Zulu royals, appears to be a stumbling block for the 20 Year Project.
Mbeki has exhausted everything there is to be said about tribalism and that’s why I will confine this remainder of this article focusing on racism within the ANC.
Many years ago, Walter Sisulu and Ahmed Kathrada were able to convince Mandela and some militants to open the ANC to other races. This led to some nationalists breaking away from the ANC. The intensity of the fight against apartheid unintentionally unified cadres of all races within the ANC. Struggle stalwarts such Joe Slovo, Mac Maharaj, Ronnie Kasrils, Marion Sparg and Helen Joseph were respected like their fellow black African comrades. In exile, these comrades ate rotten rice with worms, endured cold winters in Umkhonto we Sizwe camps, and risked death as they struggled against apartheid together.
During that difficult time, the ANC truly became a non-racial party. Back in South Africa, the United Democratic Front (UDF) was also a unifier to those who were fighting against apartheid. Jay Naidoo and Trevor Manuel were some of the UDF leaders while Ramaphosa, who only joined the ANC and politics in 1990, only confined himself to the union work. Gwede Mantashe, a “Johnny come lately” in politics and Ramaphosa’s protégé in unionism, has the nerve to say that “Manuel is a free agent”. I just shook my head.
After being unbanned in 1990, the ANC went back to being a predominantly black African supremacist party. When Oliver Tambo stepped down and handed the ANC presidential baton to Mandela, a new position of Chairperson was created specifically for Tambo. After Tambo’s death, Mandela lobbied for the position to be occupied by Kader Asmal in order to diversify the ANC leadership and to eradicate any insinuation of the ANC being an Nguni organisation. Mbeki turned what was a ceremonial role, into one of the ANC powerful positions. He used this position to champion the African nationalism agenda within the ANC….
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