A number of authors in various publications, print and online, have been reflecting on the state, impact and prospects of the Congress of the People (Cope). This has been particularly pronounced as the party prepares to celebrate its first anniversary in Kimberley on December 16.Various contributors to this month’s edition of The Thinker comment on the new party and its first year, and former national spokesperson Sipho Ngwema, in the Sunday Independent (December 13 2009), “berates” the new political animal on the South African political landscape.
Beyond the occasional musings by party members and loyalists, it is difficult to find commentary that is not critical of the party, its performance and future. This is hardly unfair, unexpected or unjust. Constant informed and constructive critical reflection, both internal and external, is a necessity for a party that hopes to position itself as a viable modern and progressive political alternative.
It is difficult to convincingly deny the political impact of Cope. It is the first “new” party to demonstrate a significant national presence — with 36 members in both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. Unlike previous “new” parties its support base is not concentrated in a particular region, having secured representation in every provincial legislature, although in various degrees. Additionally, and perhaps most crucial to its future success, is its broadly representative support base across socio-economic, cultural, religious, ethnic and racial divides.
This in itself makes it almost redundant to talk about imminent death of the movement. With floor-crossing abolished it is unlikely that the party will cease to exist, at least not before the next general election.
However, apart from having incredible strategists, committed local organisers and a vibrant membership in its fold, the party has suffered immensely at the hands of avoidable bad publicity reporting on factionalism, in-fighting and internal discontent in the highest echelons. It has also, unfortunately, not always delivered on the expectations its advent generated.
Listening to Dame Shirley Bassey’s 2008 rendition of Linda Perry’s Get This Party Started, these expectations were, in some ways, adequately captured by the song.
References to sending out messages to friends, looking flashy in a Mercedes-Benz, making connections and the anticipation of the party’s long-awaited arrival do rather remind one of Cope’s arrival and first year.
A year later, however, there remain critical issues that must be discussed and ironed out, relating directly to the party’s “New Agenda of Hope and Change” and its desire to be a progressive, modern alternative. Two issues in particular deserve attention (the focus of subsequent contributions), namely the party’s perceived inability to cope beyond personalities, and the substantiation of its “new agenda” transcending a supposed ideological wilderness.
As the 2011 local government elections loom, the next great test for the party, it is pivotal that Cope goes to Kimberley on Wednesday to convincingly “get this party started”. It is essential that this provides a tangible demonstration of the party’s viability to the South African public, recapturing the imagination of the country’s citizens and rebuilding the morale of its supporters and leaders by manifesting its vibrant nature and a semblance of unity and coherence.
Nice reflection Marius. Some of my random thoughts:
I think “a progressive, modern alternative” in South Africa (which Cope has the elements to become) rests on it’s ability to convince hundreds of thousands of ANC supporters that voting along racial lines is, quite simply, a mindless waste of one’s democratic right.
For the masses of ANC supporters whose biggest daily concerns are (literally) bread-and-butter issues, it is unlikely that they are aware of the rampant and disgusting corrupt practices within the ANC, because access to information and other public sphere stuff is not a priority for them.
Cope should go on a very large “fact-giving” mission, so that voters who do not have access to news on a regular basis are able to critically decide who to vote for. And when they realise that there is a viable BLACK alternative, perhaps COPE will get a bigger piece of the pie.
And perhaps democracy will then become more vibrant in SA.
post-script:
Once voters are lured to Cope because it is a Black alternative, Cope should ensure a really racially diverse membership, and then emphasise voting on merit.
You gotta get them in using race.. but don’t keep them in because of it!
Suntosh are you then suggesting the people who vote for the DA,FF+ etc don’t vote on racial lines but merit?
COPE needs to hold a confrence to elect their own leaders, COPE is leaderless…. COPE seems to be dead… Alot of talk but no action….
A thoughtful blog Marius. and agree with Suntosh’s sentiments.
“Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” – from a speech by a British historian and parliamentarian, Lord Acton, who also admired the US Federal structure as means of preventing the rise of tyrants.
Preventing SA from sliding into a one-party state is imperative to building our nascent democracy. You’re right in that Cope is the first viable opposition party that transcends geography and race. One only hopes that Cope can continue to strive for more proportional representation from each of our communities in order to build an opposition party with credibility and backbone to counterbalance the dominance of the ANC.
All hopes of the DA acting as an opposition party have been dashed since their dismal performance over the last 15 years have shown that they are simply a lite version of the old National party. The present racist DA leadership continue to be stuck in their supremacist mindset engaging in gutter politics borrowing strategies from the racist neocons of the US Republican party with the help of the media.
I hope the ANC leadership also realizes that this “breech baby” called Cope needs to be nurtured and encouraged for the long-term viability of our democracy and our best insurance against rampant corruption.
The long and the short of it is that COPE should simply learn from the MDC in Zimbabwe.
cope has to get its act together,period.
I had initial high expectations that COPE could be the opposition to ANC. I have learned from COPE’s factionalism, that African Politics does not conform to Democratic thinking.
The Big Man Cult Personality is too pervasive for there to be two strong parties, or two Big Men in one party – to ever succeed. Never the twain shall never meet.
The optimists that deserted ANC to vote for COPE have been disillusioned and will, in future, abstain from voting.
The reduced voter turnout may help the Opposition Parties, provided their voters – turn out in full force.
The extra 2 years mooted by ANC before next election, should help Opposition; provided they get out there and inform voters about the consequences of Africa’s “tribal voting pattern.”
Those people end up here in our country, abused and neglected by the Big Man they voted for ! !
Who is COPE again?
@ Dave Harris – hyperbole much? The DA’s inroads in black African communities, though modest, far surpass anything the NNP could have achieved on their best day. And the DA has actually been a very effective and the most industrious opposition party. I have far greater faith in the DA’s ability as the official opposition than in COPE (in its present state).
That’s odd coz, from what I can tell, the DA takes its cue and inspiration from Obama (right downto semi-plagiarised logo). But, in the event that I am wrong or misinformed, perhaps you could enlighten us as to these strategies borrowed from the “racist neocons of the US Republican party”?
I vote 4 the DA on the basis of merit – they have reduced crime by 90 percent in the cape town CBD,and a budget deficit of hundreds of millions of rands left by the ANC in cape town was quickly turned into a profit by the DA.i know black and coloured DA leaders who vote 4 the party based on merit.its the only party that puts forward an open opportunity society.to call the DA racist is a blind notion.
Not sure I agree with you re the DA, Dave Harris, but then I seldom do agree with you.
I wrote elsewhere that COSATU has given me cause for jubilation recently, in showing a united front in the face of adverse criticism. And since we only ever see the bad news in the media, re all the political parties, it’s not always easy to know
the truth of any.
Now, Be, I can agree with. The MDC shows its staying power on a daily basis and deserves to overcome.
I think that parties should seriously consider their self-promotion, send out some pertinent press releases and let us all know exactly what they are achieving, so we are left in no doubt. Why do representatives not visit every home in their district? They used to…
A united front is also essential to gaining confidence.
What political party is not made up of individuals with definite personal opinions? The ANC overcomes its differences (when it can) by ensuring that only designated spokespersons address the press, which always leaves me believing it’s got a lot to hide.
I didn’t particularly like Tony Leon’s take with the DA; too forceful and combative. Helen Zille has the grace to concede when necessary and keep the good of South Africans ‘top of mind’.
The most important thing for me, is effective opposition, no matter the party in power or, better said, perhaps, in the hot seat!
The founders of COPE wanted to confuse the people who traditionally supports the ANC, and steal its identity, period. Some of remembers the “divorce papers” served on the liberation movement by COPE founder, Terror Lekota. He berated the current ANC leadership as having “moved away” from the values espoused in the Freedom Charter. By even adopting the name “Congress of the People” is by its very nature enough reason to believe that they wanted to cling to the traditions of the ANC, usurps and amends its policies and had no intention of developing their own. Their elective congress is to be held in December next year. The ANC holds its national conferences every five years also in December. Is this a mere coincidence? Me think not. Their leadership structures resemble that of the ANC. As for the innumerable leadership squabbles at all levels, the least said the better.
The General BH’s party must consider a possible merging with DA and COPE… an approach bearing great potential in the future of South African politics to save us from freedom fighter and MK compensation experiences.
We need an alternative broad church in SA. For as long as there is no party that is able to position itself by speaking in too many self-contradicting toungues, then we will be subjected to this political acting that determines its own director, actors and even writes its own script. If Cope, DA, UDM and ID could come together, then I assure everyone that the broad-church beauty contest could be very interesting.
Also, 4 Dave Harris to suggest that COPE is the ‘best insurance against rampant corruption’ is a joke.Lekota was Minister of Defence at the time the arms deal took place.Many of COPE’s members were members of the corrupt ANC and many South Africans understand COPE to be a front to provide employment 2 those who lost out at Polokwane.
@Jabba
Rather than spell it out for you here are some pointers of the DA borrowing tactics from the racist US neocons:
- using the media to engage in gutter politics e.g. the vilification of Jacob Zuma before the elections while painting Helen Zille as the “best mayor in the world”
- the power structure of the DA is dominated by whites
- even under apartheid CT was more cosmopolitian, now blacks are marginalized in their own country!!!
- the vehement opposition to AA while they cite “merit” implying blacks are intellectually inferior while ignoring centuries of white-AA
- their supporters in the media (e.g. Zapiro and other columnists) paint blacks as drunks, rapists and savages
I could go on, but suck on these for a while.
@ Dave Harris, is it the use of media in election campaigning or vilification of political opponents that makes it a strategy borrowed from “racist neocons of the US Republican party”? If it’s either or both does that apply equally to other parties or is the DA the only party capable of being racist?
Also, there was no “painting” (which suggests embellishment of truth and reality) of Helen Zille as Best Mayor in the World. She actually won the award!
The “white dominance” in the DA is not due to black people being deliberately kept out; it’s due to black people not coming in in numbers that would result in visible change. While the party has been increasing its black support, those people don’t necessarily want to be actively involved in party structures (which is how they’d become leaders in the party) or public reps (which would address the white public face issue).
I go to Cape Town several times a year and I haven’t noticed any regression to segregation or increases in black marginalisation; perhaps you know of new by-laws that are being passed in this regard…
The DA opposes race-based AA which merely serves as a fig leaf for cronyism and elite enrichment and in fact favours tie-breaker AA.
Finally, how do you know that these people in the media are DA supporters? Because they’re critical of the ANC? That would be such lazy logic – I know many people, black and white, who are critical of the ANC but wouldn’t touch the DA with a ten-foot barge pole.
The ANC’s problem is the “if you’re not for us, you’re against us” mentality. The world is much more complicated with multiple shades of grey for such simplistic thinking to be credible…
I agree that the racial representivity in the DA’s top leadership needs changing,but the DA didn’t use the media to villify zuma.its a fact that zille was voted as the best mayor in the world,whilst zuma faced 783 charges of bribery which were miraculously dropped.zapiro portrayed zuma as the rapist of justice.the black ppl he may target happen 2 b in leadership positions.BEE in ct is on the increase – blacks arent discrimated against in ct, they get better services 4rm a competent govt.