This is the last of my letters. I hope the Post Office delivered my previous ones to you.
Straight to the issues. I have seen you raving and ranting about defending the Freedom Charter like a priest guarding a holy shrine. But when unmasked, your defence of the Freedom Charter is not defence for the charter itself, but for a reworked and diluted version of the original charter itself.
To you and your ilk, the Freedom Charter does not represent the aspirations of the delegates of Kliptown; it represents a catchphrase that can be used to win support while at the same time abandoning its main tenets. Anyway, let me ask, when did you first realise that the Freedom Charter still exists? Did you forget it when you were still in government?
Let me be frank. What happened to the clauses in the charter that say: The people shall share in the country’s wealth; the land shall be shared among those who work it; there shall be work and security; the doors of learning and culture shall be opened; and there shall be houses, security and comfort?
Are the people sharing in the country’s wealth, or are BEE cronies amassing all the wealth? Is the land being “shared among those who work it” or being shared between the willing buyer and willing seller? Is there work and security? Or are our people being tormented by criminals on a daily basis? Are the doors of learning open, or are they open upon payment of school fees?
I am asking you these questions because you are fresh out of Cabinet and none of these aspects of the Freedom Charter were ever taken care of by your own holy government. In fact, this shows that this sudden love for the Freedom Charter is nothing but populist rantings that have nothing to do with the charter itself, but are about scoring points against the ANC where everybody knows it failed dismally, even under your own leadership.
Anyway, let me ask, is the Freedom Charter a bible that must be implemented word for word regardless of the conditions prevailing at a particular historical epoch? The charter must not be treated in this fashion; rather, it must be taken as a product of its epoch that may not be compatible with the aspirations of South Africans in the 21st century. I know very well that most South Africans would reject the aspect that talks about “nationalisation” at all costs”.
This does not mean I would agree with those that would seek to dismiss “nationalisation” as an option. I am just highlighting the fact that the Freedom Charter cannot be taken as given without scrutiny and development. Remember, the Freedom Charter is a product of inter-class compromises.
In fact, it even carries areas that are in direct contrast to each other, such as “The mineral wealth beneath the soil, the banks and monopoly industry shall be transferred to the ownership of the people as a whole” (this is nationalisation), while “All people shall have equal rights to trade where they choose, to manufacture and to enter all trades, crafts and professions” (this is capitalism at its best).
In fact, as a communist these are some areas with which I totally disagree in the Freedom Charter. Some of them include clauses that encourage the development of capitalism while some openly gravitate towards capitalism.
It is within this context that South Africans have a duty to develop a common document that represents their collective aspirations today, because surely, other than the misuse of the Freedom Charter, the ruling elite in our country no longer find solace in this document.
That is much better. I will have to engage you further on the Freedom Charter someday.
Poor analysis. Go back to the drawing board and come back with something that can make us think a little
Good questions Ndamase…
Unfortunately, the speedster is still busy digging his own dark hole. I doubt very much that he’ll be able to read your letters not to mention responding to them.
His pea-sized brain is eventful figuring the name of their kindergarten [on the other hand he has to make sure that people don’t become aware that their nonsensical move was driven by power starvation & drunkenness], it’s tough, they don’t know where and how to start.
I just cannot wait to see them beginning to tussle for leadership positions; fortunately (I’m not gonna wait for long, because) it’s going to start with the list of imps to represent the so called “national convention”…
Hmmm! Another very small breakaway faction from a tiny breakaway faction…just like domino stones…sies!
Let the good times roll…
@ Fresh
What is poor about the analysis? Is it because you disagree with it.
The Freedom Charter is a dog’s breakfast — parts are hardline Marxist, others hardline capitalist. It was always little more than a wish-list rather than proper policy and it is half a century old and as dated as Brylcreem.
I have always stressed to my friends that i am all for a new party (preferably coming from Civil Society) and not the Anger Inspired Party (AIP) of recycled ANC members.
To add there Lazola, “The people shall govern” is the first clause in the Freedom Charter and my question to Lekota will be – Isn’t the situation in Khutsong, Matatiele a result of deviating from this clause in the Freedom Charter?
thank you for highlighting what many people seem to forget Mr Lekota included, what will happen when he losses election are we going to see a new South Africa, which is a breakaway from the one we live in?
Communism is only fun if you are part of the Politburo. For everybody else it is pretty shyte.
The only people I ever hear promoting Communism are those who would be included in the Politburo -> i.e. basically power hungry hypocrites with no social conscience.
For the rest of us, we like our freedom, the right to be able to choose what we want to do with our lives, the right to choose what kind of house we would like to live in, and many other rights that communists choose to suppress. I have known several ordinary people who have lived in USSR, and believe me when I tell you that they celebrated the fall of communism and revel in their freedom today.
It is surprising that in this age, there would still be tyrants who would choose to suppress people with such an ideology.
@Lazola
This was what a poet of note called a take 6, a klap and a pointed finger.
Funnily enough, these 3 letters to Terror have been your clearest writings. I agree with your analysis and the passion is coming through. I wonder if the wine farmer from Durban will ever answer!!
Lazola,
On the border between Switzerland and France, five Kilometres beneath the ground there is a machine called a Hadron collider-the biggest in human history. Its purpose is to isolate various subatomic particles.
If i was using this machine i still would not find the point of your blog!
Frank i think you do not want to find the point, be careful of what you write some of us might think you intellectually challenged and a just being stubborn for the sake of your here Mr Lekota.
Lazola reloaded,
So if i understand you correctly, if i dont see yours or your namesake’s point i’m either stupid or stubborn. Interesting…
For the record i really dont see Ndamase’s points. His blogs seem to be polemic for the sake of it. The sarcastic undertone that belies his ‘Lekota letters’ is as weak as his treatment of issues. This is why you hear comments saying he is ‘Klapping Lekota’ for instance. This maybe fine for a beer session with your friends but on this forum i think more respect must be shown to readers and contributors alike.
FYI-i’m equally critical of anyone who promotes ‘cult politics’ without regard for the facts and/or our intelligence.
I agree with you 100%.
Lazola – Lekota’s decries the ANC’s departure from the principles underpinning the Freedom Charter, upon which there has been progressive consensus, taking into account the ANC’s transition from a political party to a ruling/governing party. The prevailing geo-political climate at the time meant that the ANC had to take a pragmatic approach in the development and implementation of economic policy, hence the abandonment of nationalization of major private entities while embracing the privatization of state assets. The ANC, along with other political and non-governmental organizations, championed our current constitution which provides for equality before the law, freedom of association etc…This constitution is the supreme law of the country. Now, a proposed political solution to the legal troubles of the ANC president is in direct conflict with the constitution and a departure from the tenets of the Freedom Charter. It is this departure from the Charter that Lekota is referring to and more importantly the unconstitutional nature of the proposed political solution. Economic policies normally respond to the socio-political needs of the time and may be changed according to their success or lack thereof. However, the same cannot be said about the rule of law. We should not allow the subversion of the constitution just to save one man or anyone for that matter. I therefore find it strange that people accuse Lekota of hand-picking the clauses in the Freedom Charter that suit his argument, as if to suggest that if we did not nationalize as the Charter prescribes, then we can chop and change the constitution, suspend the rule of law and ignore the principle of equality before the law, as mush as we like.
Nationalization is still very much on the agenda. SACP proposed that Sasol and AcerlorMittal be nationalized. They have called for the creation of a state Mining company, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing plant and re-nationalization of other state entities. Now that SACP is the senior member of the tri-partite alliance (the ANC is now just a name) and having managed to secure a shift to the left, some of what they have proposed may become a reality. Economic policy is a contested terrain; but the rule of law and equality before the law are sacrosanct.
GOOD QUESTIONS NDAMASE..I DOUBT IF EVER NTATE LEKOTA WILL BE ABLE TO RESPOND BECAUSE HE IS BUISY WITH HIS DIRTY WORK.
I completely agree that the Freedom Charter isn’t a Bible, that it is a document to be worked with.
And COPE are using it as a bit of a catch phrase. As if it gives them legitimacy, if they are punting the Freedom Charter.
But just like the Freedom charter isn’t a Bible, the ANC isn’t our clergy. And in light of that, one thing that worries me is how defensive ANC people are being about this break away. The ANC are great, and I hope they continue honourably on to their upcoming 100th birthday and beyond.
But they are not divinely instated priests. The are not the sole owners of the future of our country. Or of it’s past. They don’t have all of the solutions.
And the more voices we have, the more political parties, the less centralisation of power, the more transparency, the better.
Surely?
Good defence Faku but your energy be utilised better if you were positive in your approach. How about helping delinquent Julius Malema to reform his way of thinking. Asumming that you were better than him of course.
I think Julius needs a political schooling and good manners. South Africa is facing many challenges like unemmployment, crime, poverty and so-forth. If you could spend most of your time Faku formulating solutions to these problems rather attacking Mr Lekota who is otherwise concerned about the looming Zimbabwe.
A sight of Zim and ANC delinquency does that concerned you a bit?
Lazola, you ask questions that are very pertinent and that expose Lekota’s agenda for what it is. I guess partisan readers will remain obfuscated by their loyalt.
Truth of the matter is that the ANC went to dogs under the chairmanship of Mr Lekota. Even drawing up manifestos became a process dominated by the inner circles. Until recently, as it happened in 1955, people’s asprirations are again beggining to set the agenda. Simphiwe is spot on, it is only a matter of time before storms visit their chosen politcal wilderness. You dont have to look hard, the clouds are already gathering. There is a storm coming.