Where is the accountability?
This past weekend the ANC revealed that current Tshwane mayor, Kgosientso Ramakgopa, was not nominated for another term and will therefore lose his position shortly after the local government elections scheduled for the 3rd of August.
What followed shows that that decision clearly did not go down well with everyone.
By late Sunday several members of the ANC were injured and one person died, amid factional battles. By Monday a metro police vehicle was flipped over and parts of the city was burning. The sudden violence demonstrated two things: violence is still a viable tool for some; and the ballot seems to be a mere means to justify the former.
Textbooks will tell you that democratic processes are there for citizens to hold their elected representatives accountable, none more so than a municipal election. Here the public is effectively in control of choosing those who will make most of the decisions affecting their daily lives – their immediate representatives. Theoretically, those officials would act in the public’s interest, because it aids them in the process of staying in the job. And of course, if enough Tshwane residents vote for a party other than the ANC it would lose power.
Other than the Western Cape, the governing party has previously not been at serious risk of losing what it refers to as “a strategic town.” As a result, one could view things in this way – that public sentiment could easily take a backseat to what factions determined.
But how does one explain Ramakgopa’s removal when in other areas, or at a national level, far less competent officials have managed to hold on to their positions despite public discontent?
Are Tshwane residents dissatisfied or unhappy with Ramakgopa’s performance? Has he dragged the city through the mud only to ensure his own suit stays clean? I would argue that rather, a case could be made for the opposite.
Tshwane is one of the better performing municipalities, which enjoys an unemployment rate below the national average. It has a viable public transport system and is one of the leading cities when it comes to providing free public Wi-Fi. (And most importantly, it stays green throughout winter.) Incidentally, Ekurhuleni, another a performing metro, similarly decided to exclude its current mayor from the candidates list.
What possible conclusion can one then come to – other than the fact that a political decision has been made to change things, with little regard for what the people on the ground wants. As things spiral out of control, there can be little doubt that some believe that the ANC will stay in power forever. But the same state of affairs could lead to massive losses for the party – as voters make their marks in August.
The focus is on Luthuli house to provide leadership, calm tensions and restore order in Tshwane. Whether it can still afford to settle quarrels in full view of the public remains to be seen. What is important is for voters to demonstrate that officials’ interests should be aligned with what the public wants – without damaging our own suburbs and setting things alight. This can no longer be part of our narrative.