Reflections on some lessons learnt at the biggest political school of the ANC!
As a branch delegate, mandated by the basic unit of the African National Congress located in the quasi-rural area of Natal Midlands, to the biggest political school of the ANC, I find it necessary to share some few lessons that were taught to by the NGC.
Given time and space limitations, perhaps I should briefly mention that I was indeed worried about the success of the watershed NGC particularly because of the media's foolish fairy tales that almost, albeit ironically, meant that the ANC's centre and the presidency in particular are not holding hence were falling apart.
For instance, cartoons and gossip-mongering informed articles suggesting an existence or imagined fierce fight, related to the 2012 elective Conference, became our daily bread.
As we go back to report to branches, there are many lessons to be learnt by everyone particularly the media and, as Prof. Seepe says, the "certificated (analysts) who suffer from misplaced intellectual superiority".
The first lesson to be learnt is that being outside of the ANC means that you can never set the agenda for the ANC and that everyone must try to understand the ruling ANC first before speaking or imagining things about it lest one's future comments about the ANC could not be taken serious.
It is primarily for this reason that the flawed analysis of the ANC NGC by the media and "certificated analysts" should be forgiven since it's misinformed by understanding that vigorous but frank debates are healthy hence encouraged within ANC.
Secondly, that no matter how many times lies about leadership fights etc are told but they can never substitute the truth since the latter, as Mahatma Ghandi once said, has its own mysterious ways of coming. The adoption of the Presidential and Organisational reports without too many amendments indicates that an existence of ferocious interior fights is a figment of the media and other's imagination.
Thirdly, that the ANC, unlike other parties, gets its strength from robust but comradely debates which ceases once a decision has been taken by the collective.
Fourthly, that the Alliance is unique and is informed by practical struggles and an agreement that the logical conclusion of our struggle remains as the resolution of racial, class and gender contradictions. Agreeing with this assertion therefore means ours, as OR once said, can neither be a paper alliance that depends on individual leaders' agreement nor can a pact be signed.
The final lesson taught was the reaffirmation of the fact that amandla asemasebeni* and that the ANC, despite premature obituary in a form of foolish fairytales, remains as the people's parliament and that its centre is indeed holding.
The foundation for these lessons was laid by the Presidential input which had set the tone which was revived by the ANC Veterans Leagues by calling us into order. We were called into order through being reminded about the revolutionarity of our revolution, strategy and tactics, victories and challenges that are ahead of us as we jealously consolidate our gains while building towards the centenary.
The revolutionary discipline displayed by all delegates including the YL vindicates the view that the ANC remains as our vision and our future because it lives and it leads.
Thembinkosi "Guerrilla" Zondi, Moses Mabhida Region, Kz221 ward 3 ANC and ANC YL branch Secretary and is writing under his personal capacity.
*real power is located in the branch.
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