National Policy Conference 2017 Strategy and Tactics

NATIONAL POLICY CONFERENCE | DISCUSSION DOCUMENTS
5TH NATIONAL POLICY

CONFERENCE
30TH JUNE 5TH JULY 2017
GALLAGHER CONVENTION CENTRE, MIDRAND
THE YEAR OF OLIVER REGINALD TAMBO:

LET US DEEPEN UNITY!
STRATEGY AND TACTICS

OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
DISCUSSION DOCUMENT
1
STRATEGY AND TACTICS OF THE ANC 1
ENHANCING ORGANISATIONAL
INTEGRITY AND INTENSIFYING
ACTION
TOWARDS A NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY
BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION
1 At the 53rd National Conference of the African 5 The cause of social transformation in South
National Congress (ANC) in 2012, a preface was Africa is taking place in a global environment
appended to the Strategy and Tactics document characterised by contradictory tendencies in terms
adopted in 2007. of human development and the crisis of neo-liberal
capitalism.
2 In the period since the last National Conference,
there have been many global and domestic 6 On the one hand, the rapid modernisation of
developments that bear relevance to the strategic technology and developmental convergence among
and tactical approaches of the ANC. Combined some regions contain possibilities for improving
with developments since 2007, the changed situation the human condition. Attached to this are changing
warrants a revision of the ANCs strategy and economic power balances in favour of developing
tactics document. Where the movements approach countries and new trends in economic partnerships.
has not changed, as with the characterisation of the
7 On the other hand, the global economic crisis
National Democratic Society, this is largely retained
which started with the financial meltdown in 2007
from the 2007 document.
underlines the flaws of neo-liberal ideology and
praxis. The world is experiencing a poly-crisis
3 This strategy and tactics document outlines the
reflected in: the rapacious conduct of finance
organisations analysis of the global and domestic
capital, signs of secular stagnation in production
balance of forces, and how this facilitates or hinders
and trade; degradation of the environment; and
the attainment of the ANCs ultimate objectives. further marginalisation of regions in the periphery
Arising from this are the medium- and long-term of global capitalism.
tasks facing the organisation and society at large.
8 Accompanying these multiple crises is the declining
4 The notion of strategy is used to denote the long- legitimacy of the political and business elites.
term objectives that the ANC has set for itself. This is a consequence of their inability to address
Tactics refer to the immediate and medium-term the fundamental questions of social inequality,
tasks to attain those long-term objectives. declining social ethics and mismanagement of
1
such global challenges as migration and terrorism. 15 Disquiet within society grows by the day. Be it among
Narrow nationalism and chauvinism are on the the poor with little prospect of improving their lot,
ascendancy. Selfish geo-political pursuits and the or women and young professionals butting their
rise of the security-industrial complex threaten to heads against glass ceilings, or ordinary workers
worsen global tensions and plunge the world into a living through socio-economic marginalisation, the
devastating inferno. restlessness has become palpable. While elements
of these realities may derive from objective
9 Across the world, progressive civil society and left conditions, subjective factors pertaining to the
political movements have sought to challenge this quality of leadership have not been edifying either.
state of affairs. However, many parties that have
historically pursued social progress have either been 16 Addressing the root causes of these social
co-opted into the dominant school of thought or challenges is in the national interest. It requires
are unable to break through discourse that justifies leadership in a broad front of all social sectors, to
social inequality and security-oriented solutions as give hope through practical action, and to galvanise
the natural order of things. society into active citizenship. The twin impulses of
10 At the core of global social discord is the legitimate societal leadership and an active citizenry
fundamental question of political economy, the will feed on each other to propel society to greater
distribution of income and assets in society. heights.
11 South Africa represents the most acute 17 In recognition of the imperatives of the moment,
manifestation of most of the social fault-lines that most South Africans have embraced the vision
define humanitys current challenges: race, class, outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP).
gender and geographic location. Income inequality Similarly, the ANC is calling for a second phase of
and inequitable distribution of assets are at their transition towards a National Democratic Society.
most intense. Poverty and unparalleled opulence
live cheek by jowl. Apartheid colonialism ensured 18 The fundamental questions in this regard are: is this
that these disparities express themselves along desire for faster social transformation informed by
racial lines, with gender and geographic location a clear understanding of the evolution of South
overlaying the canvass upon which these fault-lines African society; does it take into account the global
play out. and domestic balance of forces; is it based on
clear strategic objectives; and does it take sufficient
12 In this regard, South Africas efforts at fundamental account of social agency and how to catalyse it!
change represent a social experiment which
resonates with humanitys progressive endeavours. 19 At the core of the ANCs tasks in the current period
As in the past when it touched the conscience of is the renewal of the organisation for it to exercise
humanity, South Africa is a giant social laboratory, societal leadership in a changing environment, the
the success or failure of whose undertakings has consolidation of democracy and the speeding up
global implications. Inversely, having attained its of programmes of fundamental transformation to
political liberation only recently, our society enjoys attain shared prosperity, social justice and human
the advantage of learning from experiences across solidarity.
the globe.
13 The ideals enshrined in the South African

Constitution accord with the strategic objectives CAPTURING THE BEACH-HEAD:
of the ANC. The pace towards realising these HISTORICAL OVERVIEW AND THE
rights depends, in part, on legislation that gives TRANSITION
effect to constitutional imperatives; the capacity to 21 The South African nation-state emerged over many
implement relevant programmes; and the acumen centuries of European colonial incursion and
of societal leadership to mobilise the overwhelming resistance against it. Before 1652, this geographic
majority of South Africans to pursue their genuine area had been home to communities with varying
interests. and evolving levels of technological development
and systems of governance. These ranged from
14 Progress in moving towards a National Democratic hunter-gatherers to pastoral and mining settlements
Society has been commendable, but inadequate. The strewn across the landscape. These communities
inequitable social relations that defined Colonialism were characterised by production and trade, fusion
of a Special Type remain largely in place. The rise and diffusion, peaceful co-existence and conflict.
of a few Black people onto higher social rungs has
not changed the essence of these social relations.
2
22 By the turn of the 20th century, the African status quo and the global isolation of the white
people including the Khoi and the San had been minority regime, whose policies were characterised
militarily subdued. Historians identify such factors as a crime against humanity. This compelled the
as technological differences, inter-ethnic tensions regime to accept the pre-conditions for a negotiated
and sporadic collaboration with the European settlement, including the unbanning of liberation
settlers as being among the most important causes organisations, the release of political prisoners and
of defeat. free political activity. The liberation movement, on
the other hand, did not have the capacity forcefully
23 It is pointless to speculate about the trajectory to overthrow the regime.
indigenous communities may have followed in their
social evolution. The reality is that a unique blend 29 Most anti-colonial struggles culminated in
of diverse peoples has come together to constitute negotiated settlements. South Africas transition
a nation. This is South Africas strength. However, towards democracy reflected the self-interest of
poorly managed, it can also become a debilitating the contending forces to avoid a scorched earth.
weakness. The core character of the political settlement of
24 The agreement that saw to the birth of the South the early 1990s was the acceptance of consistent
African nation-state in 1910 consolidated the democracy enshrined in an enabling constitutional
common interests of European settlers, premised framework.
on the political and socio-economic exclusion
and marginalisation of the Black majority. Over 30 The 1996 Constitution enjoys global pride of place
the years, this evolved into the attainment of with a few other such basic laws. This is because
sovereignty from the British empire, while retaining it embraces various generations of human rights:
the subordinate nature of economic relations with political, social, economic, environmental, gender
the metropole and its peers. and informational rights. Many of these rights are
for immediate application, while others are meant
25 Because of endowments such as land and minerals to be realised progressively.
progressively appropriated over the centuries,
South Africas geographic location, and pursuit of 31 During the negotiations process, compromises
the social interests of the European settlers, South were struck around modalities of the transition.
Africa developed an industrial base unique to most The liberation movement agreed to sunset clauses
colonies. operational in the first few years of the democratic
dispensation. This pertained to a government
26 These developments underpinned a unique feature of national unity and the easing of apartheid
of South African colonialism. On the one hand, apparatchiks out of the state system. There
the Black majority were subjugated in a manner would be no arbitrary appropriation of the wealth
similar to other colonised peoples. On the other, illegitimately and illegally accumulated by the white
the white community had forged deep roots within community over the centuries. At the same time,
the country and, largely, adopted it as its permanent the white community was expected to contribute
home. This, the liberation movement characterised to the reparations that the process of reconciliation
as Colonialism of a Special Type or internal demanded.
colonialism.
32 Two conceptual issues about the transition bear
27 Arising from this characterisation, the struggle for reflection.
the liberation of South Africa identified as its main
objective the attainment of political freedom and 33 Firstly, whilst containing transitional clauses, the
economic transformation within a society of which 1996 Constitution was on the whole an expression
the white minority constituted an inextricable part. of untrammelled majority rule with profound
Consistent equality, without regard to race, gender, socio-economic provisions. In this sense, the
social status and geographic location formed the ideals it propounds are not a compromise; but are
core of the liberation movements objectives. consistent with the objective to create a society
underpinned by a profound humanism.
28 Over time, the struggle against colonialism and
its apartheid variant took the form of mass 34 Secondly, the pace at which social transformation
organisation and mobilisation, underground could be implemented, within the broad framework
organisation, armed struggle and international of the Constitution, depended on the array of
mobilisation. By the 1980s, these struggles had social forces for and against fundamental change,
congealed into a generalised uprising against the within South Africa and abroad. It also depended
on the capacity and will on the part of the liberation
3
movement to transform the apartheid state colossus 42 What does this mean in actual practice? Our
and orient it towards the humane project. definition of Colonialism of a Special Type identifies
three interrelated antagonistic contradictions:
35 As such, fundamental to the understanding of the class, race and patriarchal relations of power.
South African transition should be the appreciation These antagonisms found expression in national
of the difference between the ideals provided for in oppression based on race; class super-exploitation
the basic law of the land and the capacity and will to directed against Black workers on the basis of race;
pursue them. Further, the constitutional provisions and triple oppression of the mass of women based
for a law-governed process of social change and on their race, their class and their gender.
the dispersal of authority across the various arms
of government was a matter of principled choice, 43 The National Democratic Revolution is defined
inspired by the objective to prevent a recurrence of as such precisely because it seeks to abolish this
the abuse of power from whichever quarter. combination of sources of social conflict. It has
national and democratic tasks, and it should strive
to realise shared prosperity, social justice and human
VISION OF OUR solidarity, premised on:
l a united state based on the will of all the people,
COLLECTIVE EFFORT: without regard to race, sex, belief, language,
CHARACTER OF THE NATIONAL ethnicity or geographic location;
DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION l a dignified and improving quality of life among
37 If the progress we have made since 1994 constitutes all the people by providing equal rights and
only the beginning of a protracted process of opportunities to all citizens; and
change, what is it that we aim for! What kind of l the restoration of the birth-right of all South
society do we seek to create? What is the character Africans regarding access to land and other
of the NDR? resources.
38 Colonialism of a Special Type contained within 44 The NDR seeks to build a society based on the best
itself contradictions that could not be resolved in human civilisation in terms of political and human
through reform. It had to be destroyed. As such, freedoms, socio-economic rights, value systems and
the system we seek to create will stand or fall on identity. Such human civilisation should be reflected,
the basis of whether it is able to eliminate the main firstly, in the constant improvement of the means
antagonisms of colonialism. to take advantage of our natural environment, turn
it to collective human advantage, and ensure its
39 A national democratic society constitutes the regeneration for future use. Secondly, it should find
ideal state we aspire to as the ANC and the broad expression in the management of human relations
democratic movement. It should thus not be based on political equality and social inclusivity. If
confused with tactical positions that the liberation there were to be any single measure of the civilising
movement may adopt from time to time, taking mission of the NDR, it would be how it treats the
into account the balance of forces. Circumstances most vulnerable in society.
in which we conduct social transformation will
change all the time. And in the process of effecting 45 One of the most critical acts of the NDR is
such transformation, there will be successes and the creation of a legitimate state which derives
setbacks. its authority from the people, through regular
elections and continuing popular participation in
40 The liberation movement should avoid the the processes of governance. Mobilised around
temptation to crow over such successes in these a clear vision of the kind of society we wish to
early years as if we had already achieved our become, the nation should act in partnership
ultimate objective. Nor should we seek to justify each sector contributing to the realisation of the
mistakes and setbacks as unavoidable. common good. The means should be put in place
for citizens to exercise their human rights, and for
41 This is where the line should be drawn between the checks and balances necessary in a law-governed
strategy the ultimate goal; and tactics the society. The democratic state should also have the
methods and actions that respond to changing organisational and technical capacity to realise its
immediate circumstances. Clearly, at all times we objectives.
should develop tactics that are suitable for the
specific conditions under which we operate. But 46 As with any nation, South Africans will continue
such tactics should be informed by our commitment to have multiple identities based on class, gender,
to the strategic goal.
4
age, language, geographic location, religion and so should be a systematic programme to correct the
on. In a national democratic society, such diversity historical injustice and affirm those deliberately
should feed into an overarching national identity. In excluded under apartheid on the basis of race,
its own unique way, South Africa should emerge as class and gender. The need for such affirmative
a united African nation, adding to the diversity and action will decline in the same measure as all centres
identity of the continent and humanity at large. of power and influence and other critical spheres
of social endeavour become broadly representative
47 The main content of the NDR is the liberation of of the countrys demographics. In the process, all
Africans in particular and Blacks in general from inequalities that may persist or arise will need to be
political and socio-economic bondage. It means addressed.
uplifting the quality of life of all South Africans,
especially the poor, the majority of whom are 52 Apartheid colonialism visited such devastating
African and female. At the same time, it has the consequences on Black communities because it
effect of liberating the white community from the ordered the ownership and control of wealth in such
false ideology of racial superiority and the insecurity a manner that these communities were deliberately
attached to oppressing others. The hierarchy of excluded and neglected. Therefore, fundamental to
disadvantage suffered under apartheid will naturally the destruction of apartheid is the eradication of
inform the focus of programmes of change and the apartheid production relations. This is more than
attention paid particularly to those who occupied just an issue of social justice. It is also about the
the lowest rungs on the apartheid social ladder. fact that these relations had become a brake on the
advancement of technology and competitiveness
48 Precisely because patriarchal oppression was of the economy.
embedded in the economic, social, religious, cultural,
family and other relations in all communities, its 53 A national democratic society should be founded
eradication cannot be an assumed consequence of on a thriving economy the structure of which
democracy. All manifestations and consequences should reflect the natural endowments of the
of patriarchy from the feminisation of poverty, country and the creativity that a skilled population
physical and psychological abuse, undermining can offer. It should be an economy in which cutting
of self-confidence, to open and hidden forms of edge technology, labour-absorbing industrial
exclusion from positions of authority and power development, a thriving small business and co-
need to be eliminated. Critical in this regard is the operative sector, utilisation of information and
creation of the material and cultural conditions that communication technologies and efficient forms
would allow the abilities of women to flourish and of production and management all combine to
enrich the life of the nation. ensure national prosperity. This is conditional on
ensuring that the brain and brawn of all of society
49 A nations success depends also on its ability are brought to bear on all economic activity. It
to encourage, harness and incorporate into its requires de-racialisation of ownership and control
endeavours the creativity, daring and energy of of wealth, management and the professions.
youth. This relates to such issues as access to
social and economic opportunities, engendering 54 In this regard, such a society will place a high
activism around issues of development and values premium on redistribution of land in both urban
of community solidarity and creating the space for and rural areas for the benefit of those who were
youth creativity to flourish. denied access under colonialism. Such access must
be provided for a variety of purposes including
50 Among the most vulnerable in society are children agriculture, housing, environmental preservation,
and the elderly: and a national democratic society mining and other economic activity, public utilities
should ensure their protection and continuous and spaces, entertainment and other uses. In order
advancement. This also applies to people with to ensure effective and sustainable land and agrarian
disability not merely as a matter of social welfare; reform, effective measures will be put in place to
but based on the recognition of the right of each assist emergent and small-scale farmers and co-
individual to dignity and development and of the operatives.
contribution that each can make to the collective
good. 55 A thriving economy in a national democratic
society requires as efficient a market as possible,
51 Implementing these corrective measures requires shorn of the racial and gender exclusions that
more than just references to general political rights. characterised apartheid colonialism, and freed
A continuing element of democratic transformation from the barriers to entry and competition that the
economy endured under colonial capitalism. It will
5
also require a state able to use its capacities to direct 62 All these measures are important for social
national development through fiscal redistribution, cohesion. They should be supported by joint
utilisation of State-owned Enterprises, effective efforts among all sectors of society to strengthen
regulation and procurement. community organisation and mobilisation around
issues pertaining to sport, womens rights, youth
56 A national democratic society will have a mixed interests, the battle against crime and so on. There
economy, with state, co-operative and other forms also should be deliberate collective action to
of social ownership, and private capital. The balance promote a positive role by the institution of the
between social and private ownership of investment family. The public media also have a critical role to
resources will be determined on the balance of play in promoting social cohesion.
evidence in relation to national development needs
and the concrete tasks of the NDR at any point in 63 Critical elements of a value system based on human
time. solidarity should include pride in social activism
and respect for an honest days work. They should
57 In this regard, the state will relate to private owners of include social dissuasion against conspicuous
investment resources in the context of the national consumption, ostentatiousness and corruption.
objective to build a better life for all. Through its This is part of the ideological engagement that
various capacities, the state will encourage socially- should be a permanent feature of the process of
beneficial conduct on the part of private business. change, involving both the state and civil society.
Similarly, through such capacities, it will ensure that
these investors are able to make reasonable returns 64 Whether such common social decency is achievable
on their investments. under a capitalist market-based system with its
tendency to reproduce underdevelopment and
58 Social cohesion in a national democratic society inequality, in a globalised world, is an issue on
will also depend on the extent to which the rights which society should continually engage its mind.
of those in the lower rungs of the socio-economic Concrete practice, rather than mere theory, will
ladder are protected. Such a society should proceed help answer this question. What is clear though
from the obvious premise that workers rights is that such was the symbiosis between political
are human rights; and these rights should find oppression and the apartheid capitalist system that,
expression in law-governed measures to ensure if decisive action is not taken to deal with economic
decent jobs, job security and a living wage. Through subjugation and exclusion, the essence of apartheid
legislation and other means, the state should ensure will remain, with a few black men and women
fair and balanced relations between employers and incorporated into the courtyard of privilege. The
employees. old fault-lines will persist, and social stability will be
threatened.
59 Particular attention in such a society should be paid
to conditions of the poor in rural areas. This also 65 A national democratic society is, by definition, made
applies the life circumstances of such groups as up of various classes and strata. The NDR seeks to
citizens in informal settlements as well as female- eradicate the specific relations of production that
headed and single households. underpinned the national and gender oppression
and super-exploitation of the majority of South
60 A national democratic society should use the Africans. It does not eradicate capitalist relations
redistributive mechanism of the fiscus to provide a of production in general. It should therefore be
safety net for the poor. As such, built into its social expected that in a national democratic society
policy should be a comprehensive social security class contradictions and class struggle, particularly
system which includes various elements of the between the working class and the bourgeoisie, will
social wage such as social grants, free basic services, play themselves out. As such, a national democratic
free education, free health care, subsidised public state will be called upon to regulate the environment
transport and basic accommodation. in which such contradictions manifest themselves,
in the interest of national development including
61 A national democratic state should continually fundamental socio-economic transformation.
implement integrated anti-poverty programmes,
ensuring that these programmes address not only 66 In broad terms, the NDR seeks to ensure that every
social assistance, but also the sustainable integration South African, especially the poor, experiences
of all communities into economic activity. This is an improving quality of life. It seeks to build a
critical in dealing with poverty in general, but also developmental state shaped by the history and
in addressing the condition of the majority of socio-economic dynamics of South African
women.
6
society. Such a state will guide national economic 72 How did the balance of forces express itself during
development and mobilise domestic and foreign the transition?
capital and other social partners to achieve this
goal. It will have attributes that include: 73 In the early years of the democratic dispensation,
l capacity to intervene in the economy in it became necessary to contain various forces
the interest of higher rates of growth and which were bent on frustrating and even reversing
sustainable development; the democratisation process. The compromises
l effecting sustainable programmes that address contained in the sunset clauses, security
challenges of unemployment, poverty and operations and reconciliatory assurances to the
underdevelopment with requisite emphasis on white community formed part of this arsenal. This
vulnerable groups; and tactical approach afforded the liberation movement
l mobilising the people as a whole, especially the possibility to capture a political beach-head, and
the poor, to act as their own liberators through use it to advance towards the ultimate ideal. In that
participatory and representative democracy. sense, it was profoundly revolutionary.
67 The ANC therefore seeks to build democracy
with social content, underpinned by a capable 74 From the tentativeness of the transition, and
developmental state. Informed by our own concrete armed with an overwhelming electoral mandate
conditions and experiences, this will, in some and a Constitution that calls for fundamental
respects, reflect elements of the best traditions of change, it became possible to start introducing far-
social democracy, which include: a system which reaching programmes of transformation. As South
places the needs of the poor and social issues such Africa stepped onto the sunshine of non-racial
as health care, education and a social safety net at democracy, the legality, legitimacy and authority of
the top of the national agenda; intense role of the the new political system, the nascent state and the
state in economic life; pursuit of full employment; new government were incontrovertible.
quest for equality; strong partnership with the trade
union movement; and promotion of international 75 While racist and right-wing forces continued with
solidarity. violent plots to undermine the democratic order,
these largely fizzled out within a few years. The
68 Most of these objectives are broadly reflected in the Reconstruction and Development Programme
Constitution and the National Development Plan (RDP) was embraced by the overwhelming
(NDP). In many respects, the NDP accords with majority of South Africans. The correctness of this
the objectives of the ANC and its own elaboration approach, and the impact of the programmes of
of the second phase of transition to a National change were affirmed by the increased majorities
Democratic Society. However, as elaborated above, that the ANC mustered in the two subsequent
the ANCs ultimate objectives go much further, general elections. Even those opposed to change
informed by the strategic posture to build a new resorted to the democratic process and legal
civilisation and the injunctions of the Freedom platforms.
Charter.
76 There were efforts, through withdrawal from the
Government of National Unity and the fight back
EBBS AND FLOWS IN A campaign to pander to the base instincts of a white
FRAUGHT TRANSITION: community that felt threatened by change. Elements
CHANGING DOMESTIC BALANCE OF within the business establishment, remnants of the
FORCES apartheid judiciary and some media establishments
70 Did the forces of change accurately read the balance resisted the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
of forces; and have they responded appropriately process and outcomes. This was underpinned by
to this balance? What is the assessment of progress an intense ideological offensive to contest the new
made in changing South African society? dispensation.
71 Assessment of the balance of forces helps clarify 77 The democratic government inherited an economy
opportunities and constraints in the process of dominated by monopoly capital, with a few white-
social transformation. The forces of change owned conglomerates owning large swathes of
are thus able to avoid paralysis dictated to by an critical sectors. The optimistic assumptions about
underestimation of their strengths, or voluntaristic a post-apartheid dividend were not borne out by
adventurism informed by an overestimation of reality, as little new investments both domestic
their power. and foreign flowed into the economy. Instead,
several large corporations sought to diversify by
relocating their primary listings and headquarters
7
from South Africa. Despite the policy positions compact found expression in agreements at the
articulated by the democratic government, a 2003 Growth and Development Summit.
narrative about policy uncertainty was propagated
even beyond the countrys borders. In addition, 84 Combined with all these developments was
all manner of obstacles was placed to block new increased activism within civil society, represented
entrants. This aggravated the fiscal and monetary by organs which co-operated with government
crisis that had afflicted the country during the last where there was agreement; but which also
days of apartheid. challenged it on other issues. To varying degrees,
institutions tasked with defending and promoting
78 It is against this backdrop that the country the Constitution sought to play their role, with the
started to experience further macroeconomic judiciary standing out among them in asserting its
difficulties, including a run on the currency. The independence and a progressive interpretation of
government in 1996 introduced the Growth, the provisions of the Constitution.
Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) strategy 85 In a nutshell, well beyond the tenth anniversary
to try and stem the decline. GEAR was a self- of democracy, there was marked progress towards
imposed programme to manage the persistent and a National Democratic Society. However, there
systematic macroeconomic difficulties; though, were also fundamental weaknesses, many of which
disingenuously, it was presented as an overarching persist to this day.
economic policy.
86 It bears noting that the years of high economic
79 While this balance of forces in the early years growth did start to expose the inherent weaknesses
of the democratic dispensation slowed down within the South Africa economy. Many binding
thorough-going transformation, the programmes constrains had started to manifest even before the
to improve peoples quality of life had started in advent of the global economic crisis in 2007. These
earnest. As asserted above, the confidence of the include the infrastructure deficit, the shortage of
people in the democratic dispensation grew; and skills, weak competition and high mark-ups in the
political resistance against change was at best akin countrys product markets, and a fraught labour
to whistling in the wind, with the ANC attaining relations environment.
close to 70% of the vote in the 2004 elections.
87 At the centre of South Africas fault-lines is the
80 What about the balance of forces beyond the structure of the economy, trapped as it is in the path
transition? dependency of the minerals-energy complex. As a
small open economy, with a colonial background,
81 By the turn of the century, the liberation movement it also reflects subordinate relations with countries
had strengthened its grip on the state machinery of the North. It is characterised by high levels of
and, in line with precepts of the Constitution, concentration and centralisation of capital; and
it could use this machinery to speed up the small, medium and micro-enterprises do not enjoy
transformation project. Fiscal expenditure on the same broad proportion of the GDP as in other
social and other services grew by leaps and bounds developing countries. Over the years, manufacturing
in real terms. Microeconomic reform programmes has been decimated.
were introduced. Combined with the windfall of
a bustling global economy, growth started to pick 88 As elaborated in the Diagnostic Report of the
up, with the period, 2003 to 2008, experiencing National Planning Commission, the central
not only high growth rates, but also a significant
challenge is that the economy creates too few jobs
reduction in the rate of unemployment.
and economic opportunities. The education system
in general, and the skills programmes in particular,
82 Provision of basic services to those previously
have not addressed the structural weaknesses
marginalised intensified; and real improvements
inherited from apartheid. All this impacts most
were registering in literacy levels, as well as access
to health, water, sanitation, subsidised housing and negatively on youth, women and rural communities.
other basic services. Affirmative action assisted
in breaking the apartheid racial and gender glass 89 While the fiscal restrictions that GEAR had imposed
ceiling. The proportion of Black people in middle were abandoned when the macroeconomic situation
and upper strata massively increased. improved, its impact lingered on, not least in
relation to divisions within the liberation alliance. It
83 At the turn of the second decade of freedom, can also be argued that such areas as the orientation
indicators of social cohesion such as confidence and capacity of State Owned Enterprises, including
in the future and perceptions of race relations in skills training, still bear the scars of this strategy.
were ticking upwards. Initiatives to forge a social
8
90 There is welcome, though inadequate, progress by the global economic crisis which has brought
in reducing poverty. However, inequality has not into sharp focus the Achilles heel of the countrys
been dented. This has shown an uptick even during economic structure. The variety of binding
periods of high economic growth. Instructively, constraints identified in the Diagnostic Report of
inequality between the races has declined; but the National Planning Commission are coming out
this had increased within the Black community, in even bolder relief.
particularly among Africans.
96 Economically, compared to ten years ago, the
91 Progress was made, over the years, in eliminating balance of forces has shifted against the forces of
manifestations of patriarchy in legislation, the change. The debt burden wears down the fiscus
orientation of social programmes, economic leaving little room for manoeuvre. As a society with
empowerment and demographics in positions a low savings rate, the country is not only heavily
of authority. However, within the private sector dependent on foreign inflows. It lies prostrate and
performance in this regard has been woeful; hapless in front of credit ratings agencies. Whatever
patriarchal attitudes and practices have remained agitation this may generate, it is all largely of our
stubbornly negative in workplaces and communities; own making.
and discourse on gender issues has mostly been
shallow. Similarly, while there is formal recognition 97 Objectively, political liberation has presented
of gay, lesbian and transgender rights, the lived opportunities to right the historical injustice. Some
experience in most cases defies this formality. progress has been made in that direction. South
Africans quality of life has significantly improved.
92 It is a matter of conjecture whether, in the decade of But the fundamental essence of apartheid
the 2000s, the democratic state could have used its colonialism remains.
legitimacy and the massive electoral endorsement to
push for speedier implementation of programmes 98 The distribution of income and assets reflects
of change. This would have included firmer the essence of racial and gender power relations
enforcement of decisions of the Growth and inherited from apartheid. The same applies to
Development Summit such as a form of prescribed management and the professions, particularly in the
assets through a percentage of investible capital; private sector. The face of poverty is black and/or
stricter adherence to sectoral charters; and female. Some of the policies being implemented,
more systematic implementation of the skills such as the spatial arrangements of human
development and poverty reduction strategies. The settlements, in fact reproduce this state of affairs.
land reform programme, including redistribution Thus, we have in South Africa today political
and restitution, could have been accelerated using liberation shorn of the fundamental elements of
the provisions of the Constitution, rather than social emancipation. Ours is a society characterised
being trapped in the willing-seller, willing-buyer by racial capitalism or neo-colonialism of a special
paradigm. type.
93 The objective balance of forces allowed for 99 This is not a new discovery. Rather, it expresses
the conclusions, variously reached, by a cross-
faster change. However, the liberation movement
section of society. The proposals in the National
was gripped by the insidious impact of negative
Development Plan, the call for an economic
subjective factors. Efforts that were initiated in that
CODESA, and the joint efforts of government,
period fell afoul of factional dynamics within the
unions and business to put the economy on a higher
ANC, which itself baulked at radical organisational
growth path all these reflect an appreciation of
re-engineering. In other words, a modest reading the common challenges facing society. There may
of the balance of forces and subjective weaknesses be differences, some of them serious, about what
that include assumptions about the sustainability needs to be done; but there is a recognition that
of high growth, as well as frailties within the current macrosocial dynamics are unsustainable.
ANC, let opportunities slip through the liberation
movements fingers. 100 It is precisely this sixth sense that impelled the ANC
in 2012 to call for a second phase of transition to
94 What are some of the critical attributes of the a National Democratic Society. Without deliberate
macrosocial environment and the attendant balance and targeted interventions, current social relations
of forces today? can only reproduce themselves.
95 Many of the weaknesses outlined above continue 101 The issue is whether there is sufficient capacity and
to manifest today. These have been aggravated will for such a step-change! Regrettably, it is exactly
at this moment of opportunity to forge a social
9
compact towards Vision 2030, that the ANC and 107 The motive forces of change the classes and
its Alliance partners, as well as the government it strata which objectively stand to benefit from
leads, are at their weakest since 1994. fundamental transformation still desire such
change and are prepared to work for it. It may well
102 The ANC faces declining fortunes. Internal be that many of these forces are starting to lose
squabbles, money politics, corruption and confidence in the capacity and will on the part of
poor performance in government all conspire the ANC to lead such a project. But this does not
to undermine its legitimacy in the eyes of the mean that they have abandoned their profound
broader public. Some progressive formations and self-interest. In fact, it is testimony to the hegemony
individuals who historically have been part of the of the liberation ideal that even parties historically
broad front of forces for change are challenging opposed to fundamental change have sought,
the movement on important current issues, at least in their public posture, to embrace both
particularly corruption. the content and symbols of reconstruction and
103 While workers have made great strides in development. In addition, pretentious radical left
campaigning to extend the frontiers of freedom, rhetoric has found fertile ground within significant
the level of working class organisation has declined; sections of the electorate.
and the progressive trade union movement is in
disarray. The sense of hope in broader society is 108 On the other hand, there is the possibility that
dissipating. Social cohesion seems to be withering. the mass of the people can, by commission or
Rampant selfish interest, in broader society and omission, precipitate an electoral outcome that
within the liberation movement, are the stock-in- places into positions of authority, forces that can
trade. More and more, an impression of reliance stealthily and deceitfully chip away at the progressive
on security agencies is taking root. Instead of being realisation of a National Democratic Society. The
the centre of transformative and ethical rectitude, Constitution and bodies meant to protect and
increasingly the ANC and the government it leads defend it may serve as a bulwark against open and
have occasionally to be directed from elsewhere frontal undercutting of social change; but on their
in the manner of lawfare to do right. The own, they cannot prevent an insidious slackening
moral suasion that the ANC has wielded to lead or even reversal of revolutionary transformation.
society is waning; and the electorate is starting
more effectively to assert its negative judgement. 109 Whether, and how, this can unfold, depends
fundamentally on social agency.
104 The postulation that this is the natural trajectory
of liberation politics some two decades after the
attainment of freedom misses two fundamental CENTRALITY OF SOCIAL AGENCY:
issues. Firstly, weaknesses with a root cause that THE MOTIVE FORCES OF THE NATIONAL
can be identified, especially if they are subjective, DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION
should be corrected rather than being accepted 111 Social change requires social agency. This applies
as the natural order of things. Secondly, electoral more so to the fundamental transformation of an
performance in a transforming society such as oppressive social system and the construction of a
ours is not for its own sake. It is about social new equitable order.
emancipation and the quality of life of especially
the poor. 112 The political act of transfer of power requires
the action of social groups that stand to benefit
105 The weakening of the ANC, which still contains from such change. The construction of a new
the main ingredients of the glue that holds South system, however, is not always a consequence
African society together (at least in its formal of conscious action. In history, there have been
policy posture), can undermine the state and the instances in which the change in social relations
democratic system as a whole. With optimism and developed within the womb of the old system.
hope among the people squandered, the social The political revolution thus came about as a
tinder of old and new contradictions can explode culmination of economic processes that had been
in a raging fire. Urgent organisational renewal and under way. Under new political managers, new
intensified action towards a National Democratic socio-economic system would evolve with time.
Society are required.
113 The National Democratic Revolution differs from
106 Given the experiences of the past few years, the this experience because the emergence of the new
question does indeed arise whether the process of system, a National Democratic Society, starts with
fundamental change in South Africa is irreversible! the attainment of political power. It is a conscious
There is no simple answer to this question.
10
act of construction. The forces that coalesced to 118 It should be emphasised, though, that objectively
remove the old order must endure yet another having a particular social status and interests
protracted process of conscious action before their does not on its own translate into transformative
ideals are realised. Informed by a correct reading consciousness. This should be cultivated through
of the balance of forces, and optimally organised, both education and actual involvement in the
they can move with speed towards their goal. But process of change. Thus, there were exceptions
it is also possible that, by commission or omission, which, so to speak, proved the rule: in the form
they can have missteps and thus delay or subvert of collaborators from the Black community and
the process of social transformation. white patriots who abandoned their socio-political
114 It is against this background that the notion of station to take part in the struggle for freedom.
motive forces occupies an important place in Under Colonialism of a Special Type, with a
the fashioning of strategy and tactics. As during white settler community that had embraced South
the years of struggle, the ANC sees itself as the Africa as their (then exclusive) home, the liberation
organised vanguard with the responsibility of movement also argued that the long-term interests
educating, organising and mobilising these drivers of the white community lay in the liberation of
of change to act in their profound self-interest. their Black country-men and women.
Because of the seamless continuity between the
struggle against apartheid colonialism and the 119 More than twenty years into democracy, does this
process of building a new society, activism among analysis still hold? As asserted in earlier Chapters
the motive forces with new tasks under new of this document, our approach to transformation
conditions is fundamental. should be guided by macrosocial reality. To
recapitulate:
115 The system of racial oppression, class super- l South Africans have attained political
exploitation and patriarchal domination gave rise liberation with the principle of equal human
to resistance by Black people. They were denied rights guaranteed in the basic law of the land.
political rights, economically marginalised and l Since 1994, the state has been gradually
subjugated in the most brutal ways, and as women, transformed to serve all the people.
subjected to triple oppression in terms of their l Progress has been made in extending basic
race, social status and gender. services to the majority; but the quality of
services and working conditions remains
116 Historically, the ANC asserted that the motive poor, and apartheid spatial economic and
forces of the revolution were Black people in settlement patterns largely remain.
general and Africans in particular. Why the l Poverty, in terms of income and assets, has
distinction, the question is always asked. In simple been reduced; but Black people continue,
terms, this is because in the cynical hierarchy of disproportionately, to endure massive
apartheid oppression, Africans occupied the lowest privations.
rung on the social ladder. They were therefore l Inequality remains stubborn, and management
impelled to act more determinedly to change and the professions particularly in the private
society. Their liberation, it can be argued, was and sector, are dominated by white males.
still is a condition for the liberation of all South l All this, and more, underline the fact that
Africans. White privilege, however, rested also on critical attributes of colonial social relations
the oppression and marginalisation of Coloured endure. South African society can thus be
and Indian communities; and much of the legacy characterised as racial capitalism or neo-
of apartheid colonialism continues to manifest in colonialism of a special type.
these communities as well. In class terms, these
motive forces were made up of Black workers 120 It stands to reason, therefore, that the forces which
and the rural poor, the middle strata, and real or coalesced in the struggle for liberation across the
aspirant capitalists. African, Coloured and Indian communities
as well as white democrats need still to work
117 The system, by definition, privileged and benefited together to eradicate this legacy. But they do so in
the white community as a whole. The workers, an environment which is changing.
middle strata and capitalists in this community
in large measure united in its defence. Monopoly 121 Black workers employed and unemployed, urban
capital, made up of local and foreign corporations and rural remain the main motive force of the
controlling large chunks of the economy, was process of change. This is not an assertion of
identified as the primary enemy of the NDR. ideological preference; but a reflection of social
reality. Because of their position in the economy and
other social endeavours, the mass of the workers
11
make society tick. In the mines, the factories, as value systems and brand image. Thirdly, an
the banks, state-owned enterprises, the courts, element of these strata has emerged through the
public and private security agencies, government political arena, lending a desperation to political
departments, parliament, private homes and so contestation that poses a mortal danger to social
on, they carry the burdens of society. They have, transformation.
over the years, developed a keen sense of their
aspirations and those of broader society; and 125 Located in various areas of social endeavour, the
have organised and mobilised for thoroughgoing middle strata have a critical role to play. Within
change. the economy, they are meant to be a catalyst to
the campaign for economic transformation in a
122 Today, they are called upon to continue playing manner that transcends the narrow self-interest
a leadership role. They have a responsibility of elite empowerment. They are critical to service
keenly to understand the evolving environment, provision. It is largely from within this sector that
including technological and generational changes, comprehensive analysis of society and creative
and to develop organisational approaches that ideas about change are meant to issue, through such
accord with this reality. Their tasks also include: platforms as the universities, the media and the arts.
advancing unity of the working class and gradually In this context, their ideological frames of reference
transcending racial divisions; pursuing decent work should consciously disavow the colonial paradigm.
and a decent standard of living for all; ensuring Given their location in society, the Black middle
a reasonable minimum wage; contributing to state strata also have the responsibility of spreading
transformation and efficient provision of services; transformative ideas across the colour-line.
promoting changes to the structure of the
economy and advancing broad-based economic 126 Compared to the period of the apartheid glass
empowerment. To play this role, they need to ceiling, the Black capitalist group has grown
have advanced theoretical and organisational by leaps and bounds. This is an achievement
capacity, clear articulation of ideals, and the ability of the programme of social transformation,
to identify and pursue the common interests of reflecting progress albeit slow and tentative
broader society. in de-racialisation of ownership of the means of
production. The core interests of this group are
123 The rural poor form part of the working class. keenly tied up to continuing social change. But
Many of them are vulnerable workers on farms, it does also reflect some of the contradictory
unemployed or engaged in survivalist economic attributes outlined above in relation to the middle
activities. Through systematic dispossession, strata. Further, some of these forces rely solely on
apartheid colonialism decimated the African the state procurement process for their sustenance.
peasantry, reducing vast rural settlements into Many among these thus display attributes of a
sources of cheap labour. Their tasks include those bureaucratic bourgeoisie, with corrupt practices
of the working class in general; but they also must including attempts to capture institutions of
focus on land reform and restitution; protection of political and state authority for selfish ends.
the constitutional rights of all, including women, Yet others have risen with the largesse of the
in so-called communal areas; and implementation established white business community, and would
of targeted poverty-reduction programmes. thus evince comprador tendencies of dependence
on and unthinking defence of the untransformed
124 The rise of the Black middle strata is a positive economic status quo. The campaign for radical
development which accords with the broader economic transformation entails more than the
objectives of social transformation. These strata narrow self-interest of this group to amass more
include the intelligentsia, professionals and small wealth. It should encompass efforts to change the
business operators. Expansion of access to structure of the economy to advance manufacturing
education, including post-school opportunities, and beneficiation, investment of more resources
and empowerment programmes across society, in productive activities, and comprehensive broad-
have seen to massive increases in their numbers. based economic empowerment. It therefore
Contradictory trends have played out in relation behoves the Black capitalist group to appreciate
to this. Firstly, given that most of these strata are that their own narrow advancement in a manner
first-generation incumbents, their social position is that deepens social inequality will yield the same
tenuous, and this may subtract from their potential bitter fruit of social conflict.
for social activism. Secondly, many within these
strata are not dependent on state largesse; and so,
127 Black women form an inseparable part of these
act autonomously in relation to electoral politics:
drivers of change. Besides suffering intense
a fickleness that brings to the fore issues such
12
privations, they are burdened with the responsibility part of legitimate political discourse. Further, in
to nurture families and carry out domestic unpaid an attempt to fish from a bigger electoral pond,
labour. Their efforts to advance themselves parties popular within these communities are
contend with a triple glass ceiling of race, class and repositioning themselves to embrace, or be seen to
gender. They carry the responsibility to make the embrace, the basic ideas of change.
cause of social transformation more humane and
more caring. As such, they should lead in educating 132 This happens in a period in which significant
and mobilising all of society against patriarchal sections of the motive forces seem to have lost
power relations, which know no colour. confidence in the capacity and will of the ANC
to carry out the agenda of social transformation.
128 Young people, similarly, straddle these motive As elaborated earlier, the 2016 election results
forces either in their own right or as part of do suggest that, through non-participation or a
families. The tonic of youth resides in their vote mainly for splinters from the ANC, electoral
capacity to be a lightning rod for disruptive change. allegiances are shifting. This is a consequence
Their impatience, militancy and imprudence are a mainly of subjective weaknesses within the
disadvantage if improperly deployed. But these ANC. An examination of the professed positions
attributes can also stand transforming societies in of the largest parties leads to the conclusion
good stead especially during moments of inertia that these sections of the motive forces have
and excessive risk-aversion. They are expected to not abandoned their support for fundamental
lend militancy to the various sites of struggle. But change. In some instances, their electoral choices,
to do so in a meaningful way, they need to arm however misplaced, reflect a sense of impatience
themselves with theoretical knowledge about the and urgency. In other words, some among the
strategy and tactics of fundamental transformation, motive forces contend that continuing social
to eschew arrogance and to learn by doing. transformation does not necessarily require ANC
leadership as such.
129 This characterisation of the motive forces and
their tasks proceeds from the perspective of the 133 What about monopoly capital? The approach
objective benefit that these forces derive from of the ANC on this issue remains unchanged.
social transformation. If, as historically asserted, To quote from the 2007 Strategy and Tactics
the long-term interests of the white community document:
lie in the liberation of their Black fellow citizens, There are fundamental areas of divergence between
is this not starting to manifest, more than two the objectives and value systems of the ANC and those
decades into the democratic dispensation? of monopoly capital. In particular, there is much in the
nature and behaviour of private monopolies that has the
130
Unlike before, support for a non-racial effect of constraining higher rates of growth and skewing
constitutional order is shared across the racial development. These include monopoly pricing and other
divide. Many in the white community have come to forms of rent-seeking, selfish import parity pricing, barriers
appreciate that their interests are indeed intimately to entry in some industries and a value system based on greed
linked to the interests of their Black compatriots. and crass materialism.
Greater inter-racial interaction and processes of
acculturation, the intersection of class interests The approach of the liberation movement to private
across the racial divide especially among middle capital, including monopoly capital, is informed by our
and upper strata, and the gradual impact of understanding of the national democratic society as a system
programmes of civic and formal education have that encourages competition, promotes sustainable labour-
seen to this. absorbing activity, discourages rent-seeking in the form of
super-profits arising from monopoly control and other selfish
131 However, the class interests of a community that advantages and so on.
historically enjoyed privileges which continue The relationship between the national democratic state and
to advantage them across generations, does
private capital in general is one of unity and struggle, co-
put a damper on this tendency. All manner of
operation and contestation. On the one hand, the democratic
rationalisation is used to justify entitlement to
state has to create an environment conducive for private
historical privilege; and a trickle-down approach
investments from which the investors can make reasonable
to change rather than actual transformation is
returns, and through which employment and technological
punted. In voting patterns, virtually all white voters
support parties that, in various historical periods, progress can be derived. On the other hand, through state-
identified with variants of white privilege. Today, owned enterprises, effective regulation, taxation and other
contestation around these issues takes place within means, the state seeks to ensure redistribution of income,
the framework of the Constitution, and it forms to direct investments into areas which will help national
development, to play a central role in providing public goods
13
and broadly to ensure social responsibility. The balance with little change in the social conditions of the
between unity and struggle will be dictated to by the majority. It recognises that the invisible hand of
strategic imperatives of the NDR. the market is incapable of undoing the social
relations that colonialism forged. Informed by
As such, the democratic state should have the strategic
principle and a continuous reading of the balance
capacity and the instruments to deal with these negative
of forces, the ANC also seeks to avoid ultra-left
tendencies, while at the same time mobilising private capital adventurism and revolutionary leaps that may in
in general to partner it in increasing rates of investment and fact result in the defeat of the revolution.
sustainable job-creation.
140 The process of social transformation plays out
134 The organisation and mobilisation of these motive in various centres of power. These consist of
forces is fundamental to the current task of the state, the economy, mass organisation, the
speeding up the process of social transformation. contestation of ideas and international work. For
Beyond this, it is necessary to identify common them to act as agents of change, ANC cadres
interests among critical sectors of society, in the need to be located in all these centres, exercising
manner of shifting concentric circles of a broad leadership not by decree or through arrogance;
front, to pursue the countrys long-term vision. but in terms of the logic of their ideas, through
their organisational acumen and from exemplary
135 What then should be the organisational expression conduct. Honesty, hard work, humility, ethics
of political leadership for fundamental change; and respect for the people are some of the core
and can the ANC still claim this mantle? attributes that they should evince.
141 Integrating the common aspirations of the motive

POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF forces into a common vision, is a challenge that
THE PROCESS OF CHANGE: the ANC has continuously to address. This is
ENHANCING THE INTEGRITY AND ROLE proceeding from the understanding that the unity
OF THE ANC of the motive forces is fundamental for success. At
136 In the process of social transformation, as during the same time, the ultimate objective of a united
the years of struggle, the motive forces organise and and prosperous society dictates that the ANC
act jointly and severally to attain their objectives. should reach beyond its narrow social base to
Such joint action requires a political movement persuade all South Africans about their common
with a vision that reflects the common interests long-term interests. It should continually seek to
of these forces. This vision is encapsulated in the forge a social compact a broad national front
notion of a National Democratic Society. for mutual benefit. This requires deft management
of contradictions in broader society and even
137 Through the ebbs and flows of changing historical among the motive forces themselves.
settings, the ANC has endeavoured to play this
role. Ultimately, using various forms of struggle, 142 In giving leadership in the various centres of power,
it emerged as the primary force in the struggle the ANC should act as the integrative forum for
against apartheid, the vanguard of the NDR. This its cadres located in these centres. The wisdom
status was further underlined by the organisations that comes out of such collective reflection and
electoral performance from the first democratic deliberation should guide these cadres wherever
elections in 1994. they are located. In other words, from the branch
level to the national structures, the ANC should act
138 The nature of the society that the ANC pursues, as the strategic centre of power for its members,
reflecting the best attributes of a developmental learning from, and in turn guiding activities across,
state and social democracy, locates the organisation society.
as a disciplined force of the Left. It is inspired
by a social humanism that reflects deep empathy 143 A strategic centre of power should command
for the poor, and it recognises the leadership both legitimacy and authority, deriving from the
role of the working class in the project of social quality of its collective ideas and the discipline
transformation. Having identified patriarchy as a
of its members. It should ensure that its mandate
critical element of the oppressive system, the ANC
is carried out by its members, wherever they are
places a high premium on gender equality
located. It should be able to monitor and evaluate
the implementation of its policies. When and
139 Arising from both theory and praxis, and learning
where there are weaknesses whether these are
from the experiences of other anti-colonial
struggles, the ANC seeks to avoid the danger of a result of poor policies, weak implementation or
liberation efforts that stall at political independence, poor leadership it should be able to act decisively.
14
144 The ANC deems it necessary to organise women, of struggle against apartheid colonialism, the ANC
youth and veterans into constitutional structures appreciates that the South African Communist
of the organisation subject to its policies but with Party (SACP) and the progressive trade union
organisational autonomy. These constituents in the movement (now represented by the Congress
ANCs organisational system have specific tasks of South African Trade Unions, COSATU) are
and responsibilities. committed to thorough-going transformation.
They are a critical political and sectoral voice of
145 The Womens League is tasked with focussing the the working class, which the ANC recognises as a
ANC and society at large on the struggle against leader of the motive forces. The Tripartite Alliance
patriarchy. It is meant to lead in the education forms the core of the broad national liberation
and mobilisation of ANC members, women front.
and men alike. Given the blatant and insidious 149 In the current phase, the need for, and role of, this
manifestations of patriarchy across society, the revolutionary alliance is indisputable. However,
Womens League should act as the voice not only the forms that the Alliance can and should assume
of women members of the ANC, but of the mass require further reflection, in the light of experience
of South African women in a broad front for under the democratic dispensation. This relates
gender transformation and general societal change. to the balance between formality and informality
The League conducts this work proceeding from in relation both to the content of the common
the perspective that womens rights are human platform and organisational systems. Further,
rights; and that a caring society should attend to how the ANC advances unity of progressive trade
the needs of the most vulnerable. unions, including those located outside COSATU
ranks, is a matter that a vanguard should creatively
146 The Youth League has the responsibility of address.
harnessing the energies of young people to lend
vigour and dynamism to the process of social 150
Leadership of the motive forces includes
transformation. It acts as a school for imparting contributing to the formation of, and co-operation
theory and practical experience to young people with, progressive structures of civil society: in
who align themselves with the policies of the ANC. communities and among youth, women, students,
Guided by the strategy, tactics and policies of the people with disability, the religious community,
movement, the League is tasked with organising issue-based campaigns, traditional leaders and
and campaigning around issues of special interest the business community. A critical stratum in
to young people and broader questions of social this regard is the intellectual community whose
transformation. To play this role, the League must capacities must be harnessed to enrich critical
have discipline of thought and action, the courage thinking and mitigate the echo chamber effect.
to try new things and the humility to drink from
the well of the liberation movements collective 151 In as much as the status of vanguard is earned and
experience. not decreed, the ANC also does recognise that it
carries out its objectives within a constitutional
147 The Veterans League was set up as a constitutional paradigm of a law-governed society. Necessarily
formation some fifteen years after the unbanning and as a deliberate act on the part of the mothers
of the ANC. Experience then had pointed to the and fathers of our democracy, the Constitution and
need to harness the wisdom of older generations relevant legislation do place limits on the exercise of
of ANC members as a collective. This repository state power. As such, in seeking to give leadership
of collective memory, knowledge and insight to society, the ANC profoundly understands that
burnished in the crucible of struggle is tasked with this must be done within the confines of the basic
reflection, assessment, critique and advice to help law of the land. This is a critical principle which
keep the organisation on the revolutionary straight is in the immediate and long-term interest of the
and narrow. The veterans frank and honest counsel ANC itself.
is critical for the ANC to maintain and strengthen
its conceptual and organisational integrity. 152 Since 1994, the organisations electoral performance
has largely affirmed the correctness of its approach
148 The ANC recognises the need to weave together and thus, in broad terms, its vanguard status.
the revolutionary-democratic, socialist and trade
union strands of the broad liberation front into a 153 Yet in this period, many negative tendencies have
tight alliance of formations that share a common crept into the conduct of ANC members and
approach towards the NDR and its objectives. leaders. Political incumbency has resulted in a
Besides the strong bonds forged during the years situation in which public representatives of the
15
motive forces are socially elevated from the mass of and a dogged determination are critical in dealing
the people, thus creating social distance between with inertia and decline. Beneficiaries of negative
the leaders and their constituents. Incumbency tendencies within the ANCs own ranks are bound
also means access to powerful instruments of state to resist. When the weaknesses are deep-rooted,
and massive resources. This creates fertile ground it takes time and much effort to turn the situation
for corruption and a vicious cycle of illicit mutual around.
dependence between some private and public
sector elites. 160 What are the critical interventions required? The
ANC needs to demonstrate in actual practice
154 These aberrations started off as exceptions its commitment to speeding up fundamental
requiring tactical interventions. Now, deviant transformation. For this, it should shore up its
conduct has become deeply entrenched; and own capacity, honestly identify and correct its
arrogance, factionalism and corruption have been weaknesses and revitalise its public image. Bland
identified by large sections of society, including reassurances that are then negated by the very
ANC supporters, as dominant tendencies within conduct of leaders and members will worsen the
the movement. Gate-keeping, money politics decline; and, among the people, they will merely
and fraud characterise most ANC electoral generate irreverent humour.
processes. Underhand practices increasingly
define interactions between various spheres of 161 The integrity of the ANC, as an organisation,
government and the private sector; and private needs to be enhanced at four levels.
interests seek to capture and control not only state
organs, but also the ANC itself. 162 Firstly, self-correction should include efforts to
revitalise and shore up the visionary and policy
155 Not surprisingly, the motive forces of the integrity of the movement. This requires clarity
revolution have started more clearly to deliver their of purpose and the merger of theory and practice.
judgement on these negative tendencies. Against the backdrop of a changing society and
opponents that seek to appropriate the language
156 This is unfolding against the backdrop of splinter- of change, reliance on technical number-crunching
parties from the ANC and a broader opposition about quantitative elements of delivery will not
appropriating the language and symbols of do. Transformation should find expression in
change. With a fracturing progressive trade union the articulation of a long-term vision of a new
movement and SACP members implicated in civilisation of social relations in the southern tip of
some of the factional activities, the revolutionary Africa, in speedier implementation of programmes
fulcrum has started to wobble. The standing of of fundamental change and in improving the
the liberation movement in the eyes of society has quality of outcomes. Combined, these should help
been lowered. define the lofty discriminator that sets the ANC
apart.
157 At the same time, natural allies among the
intelligentsia, in the religious community and 163 Secondly, the ANC should implement an intensive
other sectors, and even within veterans of the programme to restore the integrity of systems
movement, have sought to coalesce outside of of managing membership and leadership.
the ANC, in opposition to deviant conduct that From the processes of joining the movement to
has become intolerable. The very opposite of the operation of branches and higher structures,
vanguard leadership is starting show, as a factional there should be mechanisms of sifting quality and
ANC leadership becomes narrower and narrower of ongoing improvement in the orientation and
in its appeal, less and less dignified in its bearing character of members. The strategic centre of
and more and more shrill in its tone. power should exercise collective authority over
members and leaders alike. That authority should
158 An uncompromising fight against these aberrations derive from principles, policies and decisions
is a matter of strategic priority. This is the main collectively arrived at. Defiance of these precepts
organisational mission of the ANC in the current should be sanctioned through processes that
conjuncture, for its own survival as a vanguard are resolute, just and impartial. The Integrity
movement. Committee(s) need to play a more activist role.
159 Moments of low ebbs in the ANCs history have 164 The third area of strategic intervention is about
left the abiding lesson that a singular commitment leadership integrity. This relates primarily
to the peoples aspirations, decisiveness, courage to criteria and processes of selecting leaders.
Leadership collectives should, as a whole, reflect
16
the motive forces of change and the various THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE:
centres of power. This should help burst the ASSESSING THE GLOBAL BALANCE OF
bubble of professional politics in these collectives: FORCES
a bubble in which government functionaries and 168 As an important site of the global project to
full-time ANC employees operate as if in an echo build humane social relations, and as a small
chamber, thus widening the social distance from open economy, South Africa needs to pay keen
the rest of society. The various terrains of social attention to the global socio-political environment.
endeavour, gender, age and other criteria must Besides this, the countrys geographic location
be taken into account. Leadership integrity also and the abundance of its natural resources render
relates to criteria to qualify for such responsibility, it a location of interest to the global community.
including length and quality of service, as well as Indeed, the liberation struggle and South Africas
ideological, academic and ethical attributes. In this political transition, owed their positive or negative
regard, lifestyle audits by structures in which the attributes in large measure to the contradictory
membership has confidence is critical. global balance of forces, particularly in the 1980s
and 1990s.
165
In the fourth instance, the integrity of
technical systems is an area requiring strategic 169 The world, currently, is characterised by primary
intervention. This includes improvement of the unipolarity and secondary multipolarity.
membership system, utilisation of information
and communications technologies as technical
170 On the one hand, capitalism is the dominant social
infrastructure for management of membership
system. This system does have variants in different
and as indispensable platforms of internal
and public communication in the current age. parts of the globe, ranging from developmental
Creative ways of membership interaction over states and social welfarism to rapacious domination
and above branch meetings should be devised. by poorly regulated markets. China and Vietnam
Such modernisation also requires generational the major countries propounding socialist ideology
change in the composition of membership and are interlinked in an intractable web of mutual
leadership, with socially-conscious, loyal, capable, dependence with the capitalist world; and they
educated and honest young people finding space argue for a prolonged period of development of
across all echelons. The system should allow for productive forces before socialism can be attained.
various entry-points in this regard, rather than Added to this is the military dominance of the
just the narrow organisational channels that lend United States hyper-power. Combined, all these
themselves to door-keeping and manipulation. factors underline the primary unipolarity.
ANC electoral processes should be more
transparent, with rules that include systems of 171 On the other hand, a few countries in the developing
vetting, interaction between candidates and the world, particularly in East Asia have experienced
broad membership, as well as dos and donts that high rates of growth over a generation and more.
are strictly observed. This has resulted in developmental convergence
and the shift in regional economic power balances.
166 These are the strategic interventions required At the same time, regional and inter-regional
to stem the decline that the ANC has been blocs have emerged or consolidated, including
experiencing. There are many more, in the detail, the European Union, Eurasian Economic Union,
that can be identified; and as the situation changes, BRICS, the Gulf Council and others. While some
emphasis in their application will similarly change. of these blocs have a subordinate relationship with
The fundamental issue is that, without a decisive
the dominant global hyper-power, there are often
programme to correct the debilitating weaknesses,
contradictions. They do serve as a counterweight,
the ANC faces the danger of losing the core
attributes that afforded it the responsibility and limited as this may be. Combined, these factors
privilege to act as leader of society. characterise the secondary multipolarity.
167 To implement these strategic interventions of re- 172 At the centre of humanitys development is the
engineering, renewal and regeneration consistently changing nature of global production processes.
and without fear or favour extra-ordinary With advances in technology, it has become
courage and determination are required, from possible for companies to disperse various
National Conferences as the highest constitutional elements of production and services across the
structure to the branches. In the various phases of globe and to operate as a unit in real time. Research,
such a programme, there will also be need carefully advanced manufacturing components and relevant
to strike the right balance between quantity and intellectual property can be located in the advanced
quality, in terms of membership. countries, while assembly and packaging can be
17
undertaken in geographies with cheap labour. global locomotive. However, the danger of global
Instructively, some of the countries that became secular stagnation remains as stark as ever; and the
workshops of the world have themselves moved economic reconfiguration in China will take a few
up the sophistication ladder and improved the years to mature.
conditions of their workers; and migration of
production sites continues. 177 At the centre of humanitys challenges is the
fundamental question of political economy,
173 Over the past three decades, the world has the distribution of income. According to some
experienced an explosion of technological advances research, globally, more wealth is owned by the
with massive potential to improve the human richest one-percent than the rest of humanity; and
condition. Information and communications eight men now own the same amount of wealth
technology, bio-technologies, genetics and the as the poorest half of the world (Oxfam: 2017).
science of small particles (nano-technology) have In many developed countries, large swathes of the
opened many frontiers of advances in health population have in the recent period experienced
sciences, agriculture, space exploration and other stagnant incomes and a declining quality of life.
sectors. Along with this, robotics and artificial The trend towards greater inequality plays out even
intelligence hold out the possibility of redefining, in some of those countries that have extricated
in a fundamental way, the nature of work. What hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.
overall impact the fusion of these advanced While Latin America had made progress in
technologies the so-called fourth industrial reducing inequality, this is now under threat, due
revolution will have on humanitys quality of life to unsustainable policies in the midst of the global
is still a matter of conjecture. economic crisis, instances of corruption and the
rise of right-wing governments.
174 In terms of their potential, these advances are boon
for humanity. But how they are owned, managed 178 The crisis of capitalism also finds expression in
and let loose on society can have devastating the collapse of ethics, or greater public exposure
consequences. The danger is that these successes of such unethical conduct. From cooking of the
of human civilisation are being appropriated books, wilful violation of financial regulations,
by a few, in spite of the fact that many of them vehicle defeat devices to circumvent environmental
originated from, or with the variegated support of, regulations, to massive and undeserved packages
public institutions. They can be directed to benefit to many executives and, in some instances, actual
a small layer of society, with the mass of the looting of the fiscus all these developments have
people condemned as surplus to humanity. Many undermined the legitimacy of many polities in the
of the technological advances lend themselves to eyes of the majority of citizens.
selfish military and intelligence applications. And,
while agreements have been forged on sustainable 179 In other words, the global system of social relations
development, environmental degradation is facing a poly-crisis. Besides the socio-economic
continues. challenges, waves of migrants are pouring into
the developed countries, escaping conflicts and
175 The global economic crisis which started with the social circumstances which are to a large extent
financial meltdown of the late 2000s has brought the creation of destinations in which they aspire
all these issues out in bold relief. At the centre to settle. It is matter of serious concern that, in
of the crisis is the dominance of finance capital virtually all the conflict areas, such as Afghanistan,
and its tendency towards self-perpetuation as a the Middle East, and the Maghreb and the Sahel
system virtually parallel to the real economy. As in Africa, it is precisely the unilateral interventions
money chases its operatives to beget more money, of major Western powers that have worsened the
all manner of complex derivatives and trades are situation.
devised. Large financial institutions become even
larger, too big to fail. Their adventurism, some of 180 Everywhere and in each instance, the so-called war
it through computer logarithms, is either unsighted on terror seems to transmute into a multiplication
to regulators or condoned with a nod and a wink. of terrorism the deliberate targeting of civilians
All this precipitated a global crisis from which it is in armed conflict. Core causal factors such as the
difficult to emerge. marginalisation of youth, racism, xenophobia,
ill-advised attempts at regime change and the
176 There have been ebbs and flows over the past Palestinian conflict are reduced to an afterthought.
ten years, and some countries have recovered,
albeit at lower rates of growth. Countries such 181 As these crises worsen, selfish geopolitics and a
as India have sought to assume the mantle of
18
security-based approach to social challenges take countries, the Africa Rising narrative seems still
centre stage. New enemies and areas of tension to capture the long-term trend. Africas trade with
are conjured up, from the China Seas to Eastern the rest of the world has grown massively; foreign
Europe. And so, the security-industrial (military- debt has declined; and labour productivity has
industrial-intelligence) complex identifies haystacks improved. Critically, these advances have found
in which it can forage. In this way, it is able to amass expression in such social indicators as improved
reasons for its sustenance and increased funding, income, lower rates of unemployment, reduction
for both domestic and global operations. in poverty, higher rates of enrolment in primary
education, and lower rates of under-five mortality.
182 An element of the poly-crisis is also the dearth of
truly strategic leadership. Dominant ideological 188 Ebbs and flows of commodity prices and isolated
approaches seek to channel countries, regions and negative incidents in the political arena do not
indeed all of humanity into one school of thought. subtract from the new trajectory the continent
Yet, establishment social sciences including has set itself. As articulated in Agenda 2063, the
economics, politics, public communication and continent seeks to attain prosperity based on
opinion surveys have been shattered by the lived sustainable development, democracy and citizen
experience of most of humanity. Neo-liberalism activism, good and ethical governance, as well as
has lost its shine, and arguments for weak non- multifaceted integration and peace. This vision
interventionist states have been exposed by builds on earlier initiatives to bring about an
responses of their very champions to the financial African renaissance. Infrastructure programmes
meltdown. and consumer spending are expected to intensify.
Agriculture is expected to benefit from the fact
183 As with the application of technology, the that 60% of the worlds uncultivated arable land
organising philosophy of technical globalisation is found on the continent. Already, as in banking
can be bent towards collective human advantage. and communications, the continent is showing
What is required is an alternative narrative and signs of leapfrogging some stages of technological
activism in favour of the commons. However, in development. Several countries are actively taking
most parts of the world, counter-hegemonic ideas advantage of off-shoring of production sites to
are confined to insurgencies incapable of breaking become part of global manufacturing value chains.
out of confined spaces.
189 The continent, though, needs to draw relevant
184 This has created opportunities for right-wing lessons from weaknesses that have been exposed
jingoists to step into the vacuum. Armed with by the global economic crisis. These include
hare-brained ideas, they seek to turn back the clock issues to do with macroeconomic management,
of globalisation. They deliberately create a false diversity in the economic structure including
sense of security while evading the fundamental capacity to process raw materials, and the scourges
question of political economy on the root causes of patronage and corruption. Formal democratic
of social inequality. In this way, they have been able processes need to be underpinned by citizen
to corral working class constituencies behind their activism and the mind-set to accommodate
chauvinistic projects. Combined with militarism differences, be they ethnic, racial, religious or party
in geo-politics and security-centred approaches political. This should be reinforced by common
in domestic policy, these developments threaten security strategies which should include firm
security and stability on a global scale. The worst action against those who violate the principles of
in human history threatens to repeat itself. the African Union, and the pooling of sovereignty
against wilful and unmandated external military
185 Where does Africa feature in all this? interventions on the continent. Africas global
strategies should be informed, first and foremost,
186 During the past two decades, the combination of by Africas own interests.
a bustling global economy and a new corps of
continental leaders with peoples interests at heart 190 The fate of South Africa is inextricably linked to
set the stage for the revival of African economies the continents future. Indeed, the progress that
and improvement in the quality of life in most the continent has made in the past twenty years
countries. has redounded to South Africas advantage. This
is reflected in investment, trade, the innovation
187 By the turn of the second decade of the century, system, peace operations and so on. However,
seven of the fastest growing economies in the South Africa needs to develop and implement a
world were located in Africa. While the global clear Africa strategy which includes well-thought-
economic crisis negatively affected most African out approaches to the division of labour and
targeted partnerships. Critically, Africa Rising will
19
succeed only if there are reliable law-governed has been marked by signs of retrogression in this
processes to manage investment relations. regard. Objective conditions such as the global
economic crisis, and subjective factors reflected in
191 Though there may be ebbs and flows, the ANC the weaknesses of the ANC and the government it
proceeds from the optimistic and realistic leads, account for this state of affairs.
assessment that Africa is set on a new course
of rapid economic growth and development. It 198 The immediate task therefore is to place the cause
promotes African integration and the alignment of of social transformation firmly on track, and to
developmental programmes across the continent. speed up the implementation of programmes
192 This outlook also informs the organisations of change in pursuit of shared prosperity, social
approach to global relations, underpinned by the justice and human solidarity.
desire to build a peaceful and humane world order.
In this regard, the ANC seeks to work closely with 199 In this regard, the intent of the liberation movement
forces that pursue sustainable development, higher can be characterised as radical. This applies to
rates of investment and job-creation, reduction in content of policy measures and social outcomes as
inequality and peace. In the current fraught global well as pace and effectiveness of implementation.
environment, the ANC will intensify its campaign This is not to suggest any intention on the part
for rules-based trade and other economic relations, of the ANC to spring policy surprises on society
equitable bilateral relations among all countries and in search of some magical tonic to the current
reform of multilateral institutions. It will continue malaise. Where policy adjustment is called for, it
actively to campaign against terrorism, militarism, will be undertaken in consultation with relevant
selfish geo-political pursuits and the reform of sectors and the public at large. At the same
institutions of global governance. time, honest reviews will help clarify whether
weaknesses are a result of deficient policy or of
193 This it will do proceeding from the understanding poor implementation.
that the balance of forces in the global arena is not
immutable. It is a function of objective conditions; 200 Characterisation of these policy measures and
but critically, it also depends on conscious action outcomes as well as pace and effectiveness as radical
by the broad front of global progressive forces. does not and should not detract from the fact that
the whole project of fundamental transformation
in pursuit of a National Democratic Society is a
radical, revolutionary undertaking. Weaknesses
PURSUING THE VISION:
in implementation may delay or even undermine
SECOND PHASE OF TRANSITION TO A
the project; and these need to be corrected as and
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY
when they arise.
195 The vision of a National Democratic Society is
the lodestar that guides the ANCs undertakings.
201 It is conceivable that a combination of well-though-
While much progress has been made in that
out ordinary measures, properly implemented,
direction, the essence of socio-economic relations
aligned and sequenced, can result in extraordinary
inherited from apartheid persists. It is therefore
outcomes. On the other hand, attempts at radical
necessary to consolidate and deepen social change
giant leaps, mistimed and cynically aimed at
and move even faster to the ideal society. By 2030
benefiting well-connected individuals and families,
and moving into the fortieth anniversary of the
can plunge the project of change into murky
first democratic elections, all the main elements of
waters of defeat.
a National Democratic Society should have been
attained.
202 The ANC embraces the National Development
Plan which has the potential to unite South
196 Having identified the successes and failures since
Africans in action to realise a united, democratic,
the attainment of democracy, the ANC in 2012
prosperous and equitable society based on
came to the conclusion that South Africa needed
consistent equality across race and gender. Much
to move into a new phase of transition to a
in the NDP can be improved; but this should be
National Democratic Society. This phase should be
informed by two considerations.
characterised by decisive action to effect thorough-
going economic transformation and democratic
203 Firstly, the NDP is a broad platform for united
consolidation.
action among South Africans in a social compact
for fundamental change. It does not necessarily
197 On the whole, the balance of forces since 1994
reflect the totality of the ANCs ideals, nor those
has decisively shifted in favour of the forces of
of any other political party or social sector.
fundamental change. However, the past decade
20
Secondly, appreciating that no national plan can be Special attention should also be paid to residents
perfect, any necessary modifications to the NDP of communal areas to ensure that they enjoy the
should be made through regular reviews based full rights accorded in the Constitution.
on experience in implementation, rather than in
endless theoretical debates. Building a developmental state
209 Construction of a new society depends centrally
Constitution and governance on the leadership role of the state. Over the years,
204 The various generations of rights enshrined in progress has been made in transforming state
South Africas Constitution represent societys institutions both in terms of their orientation
contract for an improving quality of life for all. and their composition. However, there is a long
The efforts to inject these rights into the lived way to go in building a capable developmental
experiences of all citizens, should be intensified. state which directs economic development to
Each centre of power, from the state to civil benefit all of society, especially the poor. The
society should be mobilised constantly to enhance ANC appreciates that a trickle-down approach to
the legality and legitimacy of the polity; and each development would not bring about the desired
arm of government the executive, the judiciary results. Thus, combined with the classical notion
and the legislature should play its role in the of a developmental state, it emphasises the best
context of the doctrine of separation of powers features of social democracy.
205
Parliament and the sub-national legislatures 210 The attributes of the South African developmental
should act as tribunes of the people, laying the state we seek to build include visionary acumen in
legislative pillars for social change, monitoring terms of long-term orientation; ideational capacity
implementation, and articulating the views and reflected in the legitimacy to lead and mobilise
aspirations of constituents. society behind set objectives; organisational systems
that ensure that the state is able to meet its objectives;
206 The judiciary and institutions charged with and technical capacity residing in a bureaucracy that
promoting and protecting democracy should be is professional and capacitated to translate policies
strengthened and continually transformed more into practical programmes and projects.
effectively to discharge their constitutional duties.
They should be respected and supported as a 211 Improvement in the performance of the state is
necessary component of a humane society based a necessary condition to lift the countrys growth
on the rule of law. The objective and subjective and development trajectory to a higher level. This
reasons that have resulted in the mushrooming of would be catalytic to thorough-going economic
referrals to these institutions of issues that could be transformation and democratic consolidation.
resolved in the political and policy sphere (a form Among others, this requires a pilot agency, a centre
of lawfare), should be identified and resolved. that directs the development and implementation
Besides weaknesses in government in managing of economic and other policies. Without such co-
unsavoury developments, this trend also reflects ordination and integration of policy and praxis,
attempts on the part of some privileged sectors rapid growth and development will not be possible.
of society to undermine the popular electoral
mandate. This has the effect of sucking the 212 Special focus should be paid to the quality of
judiciary into the maelstrom of day-to-day societal cadres at political and administrative levels,
management and thus unnecessarily spluttering it from the perspective of their orientation,
with mud. academic qualifications and ethical attributes.
The state should be able to attract the best and
207
A critical objective of the constitutional the brightest in society, as part of their career-
dispensation is the attainment of social cohesion; paths. Professionalism in the bureaucracy and
and pursuit of a social compact around the stability especially in the management echelons are
National Development Plan should be understood critical. Systems of recruitment and delegation of
in this context. responsibilities should limit undue interference in
the professional functioning of public servants.
208 Consistent attention should be paid to the exercise
of human rights by all sections of society, especially 213 The state exercises leadership to economic activities
the most vulnerable. Unemployed workers and through various mechanisms, and it should deftly
those in precarious employment, women, people wield these instruments. State-owned enterprises,
with disability, youth, children and people with a including development finance institutions should
different sexual orientation belong in this category. be leveraged strategically to direct economic
development. The same applies to the state as a
21
regulator and procurer of goods and services. The production processes arising from the introduction
extent of state ownership, beyond provision of of information and communications technologies
public goods, will be dictated to by the balance of and the so-called fourth industrial revolution. In this
evidence in relation to job-creation, facilitation of regard, research and development should receive
investments and other social imperatives. requisite support. However, the country should
also exploit niches in low-end manufacturing,
214 For it to exercise leadership, the state should taking into account the character of South Africas
be networked among all sectors of society. labour market.
This embeddedness should be combined with
autonomy in policy development and decision- 220
Changing the structure of the economy
making. While the democratic state in principle should include support for small and micro-
seeks to facilitate societal consensus, it should be enterprises; with regulations, incentives and other
able to take a firm stand in the national interest, interventions that accord with the actual needs
where such agreement cannot be reached. of these entrepreneurs. This should also apply to
the so-called social market economy, including co-
215 It stands to reason that, to play this role, the state operatives and social activities in poor communities.
should conduct itself ethically, both at the political
and bureaucratic levels. Corruption and attempts at 221 Leadership to economic development should be
capturing state institutions to serve the interests of characterised by pro-poor growth and pro-growth
individuals and families should be combatted, both poverty reduction. On the one hand, a sizeable
to ensure that the state meets its obligations and to part of state incentives should be directed at
maintain popular confidence in the polity at large. providing jobs to workers structurally excluded
from economic activity. On the other hand, where
Economic transformation economic realities dictate adoption of projects
216 The approach of the ANC to the economy is that may disadvantage the poor, there should be
informed by the understanding that economic effective programmes to alleviate their conditions.
activity is not for its own sake. The economy is not
a mysterious system, existing outside of society. It 222 Changing the patterns of ownership forms a
is meant to serve society, rather than the other way critical part of economic transformation. The
around. Therefore, at the core of economic policy objective in this regard is to attain truly post-
should be the fundamental question of political colonial social relations characterised by de-
economy: that is, the distribution of income and racialisation and gender equality. This should
assets. be directed at benefiting real and aspirant black
entrepreneurs; but also, employees through such
217 Transformation should straddle all elements of mechanisms as Employee Share Ownership
economic activity. Central in this regard should be Programmes (ESOPs) and profit-sharing, as well
the efforts to change the structure of the South as communities in which enterprises are located. In
African economy, while ensuring consistent and other words, de-racialisation and pursuit of gender
sustained growth. There must be conscious efforts equality should not be an elite project with little
to move out of the path dependency, reflected in effect on social inequality.
the minerals-energy complex and the destruction
of manufacturing capacity. 223 Distribution of land and its productive utilisation
necessarily feature prominently in the programme
218 This should be pursued through infrastructure of economic transformation. A variety of measures
programmes; exploitation of comparative and can massively change agricultural production
competitive advantages in various sectors such and absorb the unemployed in the rural areas:
as the mining value chain, manufacturing of for instance, expansion of irrigated agricultural
infrastructure supplies and consumer goods; as land; promotion of commercial production;
well as agriculture and agro-processing. Sub-sectors identification of, and requisite assistance to, sectors
in which the country has developed expertise, and regions with high potential; and programmes
and from which individuals, firms, industries and to ensure access to product value chains by big and
regions have gained much learning, should receive small producers alike. These efforts should include
emphasis. This applies also to green technologies creative utilisation of land in so-called communal
and transition to a low-carbon economy, as a areas. Land redistribution and restitution will be
contribution to the protection of the environment speeded up; and land use management will be
and as an activity with major economic benefits. approached in a more systematic manner.
219 Account should also be taken of the changes in
22
224 While these efforts would go a long way in tackling living, social policy is fundamental to ensuring that
inequality, additional and directed measures should all South Africans enjoy a decent standard of living.
be adopted for this purpose. These include a The core approach in this regard is to improve
reasonable minimum wage, an income policy human capabilities and ensure equal opportunities
that addresses income differentials, and spatial for all.
economic and settlement patterns that eliminate
the apartheid tax on poor commuters. 231
Improvement of the education system is
fundamental to this. The ANC government will
225 There should also be deliberate measures to tackle dedicate requisite resources, both human and
uncompetitive practices, which result in perverse financial, to ensure that the right to education is
high mark-ups in South Africas product markets enjoyed by all. This applies to infrastructure, the
and other forms of economic rents. This would number and quality of educators, monitoring and
help enhance the buying power of the working evaluation systems and ongoing efforts to ensure
people; and in turn stimulate production. community involvement in the governance of
schools and safeguarding of educational resources.
226 For the South African economy to escape its
current low trend-growth, there should be 232 Special attention will be paid to post-school
higher rates of investment by both the public education, combining improvements in curricula
and private sectors. State-owned enterprises, with allocation of resources for tuition and
including development finance institutions, should infrastructure. The principle that no student
have requisite expertise, an orientation towards would be denied access to higher education due
the commons and appropriate governance and to their social circumstances, will be implemented.
ethics. Besides incentives, a variety of creative Emphasis will also be placed on technical and
means should be utilised to direct and cajole the vocational training, to reverse the decline in
private sector to invest in job-creating activities artisanship and provide skills and opportunities
and expand access to financial services. Pension greatly needed in the economy. All this, including
funds and trade union investments, and other such career guidance and programmes to bridge the
resources, should be managed both in the interest gap between school and work, will be undertaken
of the employees and the broader imperatives of in partnership with the private and other sectors
development. of society. Critically, the transformation of
education curricula across all levels should receive
227 Macroeconomic balances relating to public debt, focussed attention, to ensure relevance to changing
cost of borrowing, inflation, savings and so on, technological realities and to cultivate socially-
should be pursued as a matter of principle, in conscious citizens of a post-colonial society.
the service of the real economy. Better fiscal
balances create space to utilise the government 233 Recognising the gap that currently exists between
budget for economic and social imperatives. the right of access to health services and the quality
Lower interest rates benefit entrepreneurs and of care, the comprehensive initiatives to improve
consumers alike. Lower inflation rates create space the system will be intensified. These range from
for peoples incomes to stretch that much further. steady initiation of national health insurance to
Higher savings release resources for higher rates improvement of services and popular confidence
of investments; and help safeguard the countrys in primary health institutions. The objective of all
economic sovereignty. these interventions is to reduce causes of death,
and improve life expectancy and quality of life.
228 Working in partnership with labour and business, The targeted campaigns against communicable
the state will promote stable labour relations, and non-communicable diseases, including HIV
underpinned by civilised treatment of employees, and AIDS, TB, pneumonia, diabetes, strokes and
pursuit of decent work, responsible management heart diseases, will be intensified. Road accidents
of disputes, and improvement of the systems that and violent crimes, which account for a large
govern the labour market. proportion of mortalities will continue to receive
focussed attention. Renewed attention will be paid
229
Economic transformation also implies to the issue of mental health in broader society and
diversification of South Africas international in patient care.
partnerships, with the African continent enjoying
special emphasis. 234 A preventative approach to health will be
prioritised, including the campaign against poverty.
Meeting social needs Particular focus in this regard will be not only
230 In addition to issues related to income and cost of on the extent of access, but also the quality of
23
water and electricity supply, sanitation, subsidised proceeds from the understanding that such an
housing, refuse removal and other such services. identity does not entail reducing South Africa into
The anti-poverty programmes will also encompass a melting pot of undifferentiated beings.
public employment programmes, social grants,
welfare services, nutrition programmes and 241 Multiple identities based on language, geography,
targeted interventions in families to catalyse their customs, gender, sexual orientation, religion, sport
extraction from abject poverty. and cultural preferences and much more will
persist. They should be acknowledged, without
235 A decent quality of life requires an overarching, subtracting from the overarching national identity.
comprehensive social security system which will be Indeed, against the backdrop of the stoking of
introduced over the coming decade. At the same religious and other conflicts in many parts of
time, the perennial challenge of spatial economic the world, South Africans should treasure and
and settlement patterns will need to be tackled safeguard the unity in diversity which we enjoy.
head-on.
242 The social system we have inherited is founded on
236 While the elimination of poverty is in and of cut-throat competition and the dictum, everyone
itself a core objective, this should be combined for himself and the devil take the hindmost.
with deliberate programmes to reduce inequality This stands in stark contrast to the value system
in terms of income, assets, opportunity and social enshrined in the Constitution about social solidarity
networks. Reducing inequality is fundamental to and empathy especially for the most vulnerable.
improving social cohesion, and to the sustenance This is what should be promoted across society.
of economic growth. As such, it is beneficial to
both the rich and the poor. 243 Related to this is the need for the privileged
to interrogate the meaning and symbolism
Promoting social cohesion and a new of conspicuous consumption and arrogant
value system ostentation, in the midst of massive social
237
Social cohesion depends in large measure inequality. In principle, there is nothing wrong
on progress in dealing with socio-economic in enjoying the rewards of an honest days work.
marginalisation. However, it is also a function of a But, when privilege is combined with resistance
shared vision and co-operation in its pursuit. The to reasonable redistributive measures, with a sense
identity of being South African, democracy and the of entitlement to historical privilege and unethical
macrosocial ideals enshrined in the Constitution conduct in both the public and private sectors, it
are a critical starting point in this regard. In the generates social dissonance. The very principle of
recent period, this has also found expression in what success means and how merit is attained is
widespread support for the objectives of the turned on its head, to justify social relations that
National Development Plan. can only generate social anomie.
238 Joint and sectoral actions to attain Vision 2030 244 The campaign around social values has to be
should be encouraged. A social compact should waged across all platforms, including print and
be forged between the state, business, workers electronic media, education curricula and religious
and other social partners. Each of these partners institutions. In each of these platforms, social
should commit to specific contributions and even humanism and crass materialism do daily battle; and
sacrifices to attain the common objective. In other deliberate campaigns are needed to change social
words, while attainment of social equity is critical paradigms. In the recent period, the mushrooming
for social cohesion, a minimum level of social of unmediated social media platforms has created
cohesion is necessary to pursue social equity. the possibility to deepen popular democracy. Yet
along with this, fake news and unproven conspiracy
239 Social cohesion also depends on the networks theories, deliberately orchestrated to misinform
available to individuals to pursue their dreams. and to mislead, have increased in intensity.
While the usefulness of such networks is
inseparable from social status, much can be 245 As a matter of principle, the efforts to forge social
done to enhance the systems of social solidarity. cohesion should be informed by the principle that
Attention should also be paid to strengthening the South Africans together, in partnership with rest
family unit and promoting active citizenship. of the continent, need to contribute in fashioning
a new global civilisation founded on an abiding
240 There has been much progress in promoting a humanity.
common South African identity; but much more
needs to be done. The democratic government
24
Safety and security institutions of accountability such as the Auditor-

246 The safety and security of citizens is a human right General and Public Protector, enhance protection
that society needs to pursue as a united force. This of whistle-blowers, ensure individual liability, and
requires continuing improvement in the capacity of shine light on corrupt activities within the private
the state. Critically, for state agencies to meet their sector through appropriate reporting mechanisms.
objectives, they should enjoy popular legitimacy
which, in turn, would ensure that they command a 252 Transformation of the judiciary will be intensified,
sense of authority among the broader public. in terms of content of judicial education in tertiary
and specialised institutions and demographic
247 The ANC proceeds from the premise that composition of the judicial officer corps.
addressing the challenges of crime largely depends
on reducing poverty and inequality. Besides shared 253 Programmes to the enhance the capacity of the
economic growth, measures to improve peoples national defence force will continue, through
living conditions, including public infrastructure appropriate equipment, training and co-operation
from public amenities to transport and lighting with allied forces in the region and further afield.
are of critical importance in dealing with crime. This will take into account the rapid development
This should be combined with civic education of technology
and firm action to demonstrate that there are
consequences to criminal conduct. 254 South Africa will continue to contribute to
global efforts against terrorism. This it will do
248 This comprehensive approach should apply equally appreciating that, as with crime in general, success
to gender-based crimes as well as crimes directed depends critically on dealing with the social and
against children and other vulnerable groups in other causes of this phenomenon.
society.
249 The programmes to demilitarise the police service CONCLUSION

will be intensified, along with campaigns to 255 This then is the ANCs reading of the domestic and
strengthen forums of co-operation between the global environment, the progress we have made in
service and communities. This will be accompanied moving towards a National Democratic Society,
by focussed initiatives to improve the capacity and the tasks facing South Africans in general
of intelligence agencies, combining technical and the ANC in particular, as we move towards
enhancements and improved credibility of these our ideals. Both the theoretical underpinning to
agencies among the people. this articulation, and the distilling of practical
experience, form the basis of the ANCs approach
250 An important and indispensable link in the to the transformation of South African society.
criminal justice chain is the prosecution authority. Above everything else, what infuses this approach
Charged with representing the people and the state is a fundamental social humanism about the quality
against those who violate the law, it wields massive of life of the people of South Africa, Africa and
authority and attendant responsibility. As with the the world.
intelligence agencies, priority attention should be
paid to its capacity to deal with all manifestations 256 Having captured the beach-head of political
of crime, as well as its credibility among the power, the forces of liberation have sought over
people. This requires that it carries out its work two decades to bring to life the ideals that inspired
consistently without fear, favour or prejudice. generations in the fight against colonialism. Much
has changed. But fundamental elements of social
251 The battle against corruption will be intensified, relations inherited from the past continue to stare
proceeding from the understanding that corrupt us in the face.
conduct in both the public and private sectors is
criminal. Besides its legal and technical implications, 257 The marginalised are less and less prepared to
corruption is also socially degenerative because it bear the agony. At the same time, more and more
subtracts from the efforts to improve conditions of the privileged do seem to appreciate that their
of the poor and to transform society. Besides interests are closely linked to those of society as a
preventative measures such as civic education and whole. This confluence of circumstances presents
centralisation of major procurement processes, a unique opportunity to forge a social compact
measures will be taken, among others, to improve to move the nation to greater social heights. The
the capacity of anti-corruption agencies and current phase of transition demands decisiveness,
speed and a dogged determination. The successes
and the failures call for optimal societal leadership
25
and an active citizenry. and dangers intermingle in complex combination.

Social agency, inspired by idealism and skilful
258 To build on the foundation laid since the organisation, is the key to unlock movement to
attainment of democracy, the following pillars of higher forms of human civilisation. The ANC
social transformation inform the framework of commits to renew itself and contribute even more
the ANCs focus: decisively to this endeavour. Its confidence in this
l the state, regard derives from the appreciation that most
l the economy, South Africans aspire to a humane society; and are
l organisational work, prepared to act in its realisation.
l ideological struggle, and
l international work. 260 The journey may be long; and the effort required
much greater. But the struggle continues, and
259 Both in South Africa and abroad, opportunities victory is certain!
26
Issued by the African National Congress | 54 Pixley ka Isaka Seme (formerly Sauer) Street, Johannesburg, 2001 | Tel: 0113761000
CONNECT WITH US
www.anc.org.za ANCToday.org.za
MyANC @MyANC
MyANC_ MyANC

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NATIONAL POLICY CONFERENCE | DISCUSSION DOCUMENTS

5TH NATIONAL POLICY

THE YEAR OF OLIVER REGINALD TAMBO:

STRATEGY AND TACTICS

STRATEGY AND TACTICS OF THE ANC 1

13 The ideals enshrined in the South African

141 Integrating the common aspirations of the motive

219 Account should also be taken of the changes in

Safety and security institutions of accountability such as the Auditor-

249 The programmes to demilitarise the police service CONCLUSION

and an active citizenry. and dangers intermingle in complex combination.

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