The Anglo-Irish philosopher Edmund Burke (1729-1797) said: “Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other.”
In 1966 at the Johns Hopkins University, US Senator James William Fulbright delivered a speech on the “arrogance of power”. On that occasion, Fulbright also said: “There are many respects in which America, if it can bring itself to act with the magnanimity and the empathy appropriate to its size and power, can be an intelligent example to the world.”
At the time that Fulbright made his impassioned plea for America to humble itself to the world, America was at war with Vietnam. Similar arrogance of power that Fulbright warned Americans against in 1966 is evident in that country’s foreign policy since 2001 under the Bush administration; as a result, it has made more enemies in the developing world, particular the Muslim world, than ever before. It has displayed hostility to the notion of leading by example and has as a result lost all credibility and the respect of much of the world.
In South Africa, since the ANC national conference in Polokwane, we have witnessed the display of despicable arrogance by new members of the ANC’s national executive committee whose word is final in all matters of public interest. They have no regard for the opinion and wishes of the general electorate. Their brand of democracy is limited to a handful of 4 000 branch representatives who are purported to represent the wishes and interests of the nation.
The ANC passed a resolution in Polokwane to disband the Scorpions; the resolution — intended to serve no particular purpose other than protecting dubious characters within the ANC NEC who were being investigated — has been or could be investigated. Despite overwhelming opposition by the public to the disbandment of this elite unit, the parliamentary committees on safety and security and justice and constitutional development have disobeyed, with impunity, the wishes of the public.
The chronic illusions of omnipotence with which the current crop of the ANC leadership is diagnosed are cancerous and spell the beginning of the end. Since the dawn of time, history is littered with examples where arrogance led to the downfall of leaders and great empires; the Roman Empire being one example.
Like the ambition that tarnished even the purest of souls in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, arrogance is undoing all the good that the ANC managed to achieve as a liberation movement. Again, as Macbeth displayed blind loyalty to King Duncan, we see members of the ANC NEC doing the same towards their leader, Jacob Zuma, so that they can secure their political destiny.
Instead of reasoning with those opposed to their position, the new ANC demands obedience, intimidates, threatens and flaunts the new-found power with regrettable arrogance. The resident communist of the ANC, Yunus Carrim, who chairs the parliamentary committee on justice and constitutional development, has even dared voters to punish the ANC at the polls if they feel aggrieved by the party’s arrogant decision to disband the Scorpions. It is unfortunate that the majority of voters have been seduced by the promise of a better life under the Zuma administration; promises that potentially will remain just that — promises.
Reverend Kangaman once remarked that “the ANC will rule until Jesus comes”. It is this belief that inspires the abhorrent behaviour of his loyal congregants. If these are the ideals for which they are prepared to die, then our future is certainly doomed!
Lord Acton said: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It is not through arrogance of power that the ANC will continue to rule until the end of time, but through humility and the transformation of power to duty — duty to the public. We want to believe that the new ANC is not destitute of conscience and respect for the principles that guided the founding fathers of the movement, especially in these trying times of shrinking harmony of opinion which has been so conspicuously put at public display.
The Luthulis, Kotanes, Tambos and other illustrious men of high traits of character left the current bunch of politicians a splendid heritage to preserve, and it is incumbent upon us as voters to hold those in political authority accountable so that they may be able to leave this heritage unwasted.
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34 Responses to “The folly of arrogance of the new ANC”
Sentletse I agree with you, arrogance and politics are a dangerous mix.
How do you think we can facilitate the switch from leaders that are arrogant and do what they want, to leaders that are held accountable to the people? How do we get them to serve us, rather than us worship them?
If we can achieve that, our democracy will function.
Everyone can be a fabulous hero when you’re only in opposition. The acid test of your mettle comes when you win power. And hasn’t the ANC failed their test utterly? So, why do millions of imbeciles vote for these deadbeats, then? Are they really that stupid?
“…Lord Acton said: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It is not through arrogance of power that the ANC will continue to rule until the end of time…..we have witnessed the display of despicable arrogance by new members of the ANC’s national executive committee whose word is final in all matters of public interest.”
That’s precisely, the mirror of the pipe-smoking cerebral’s state of affairs, you deliberately pay no attention to the fact that the pipe-smoker ( your mate) was so drunk with power in such a way that he found it impossible to step down ‘Despite overwhelming advices from the public and his party members’. Now, he wants to persuade Mad Bob to do the like, while in a process, pretends as if he’s doing some sort of negotiations. We cannot be fooled, we know, he’s advising Mad Bob to cling on power until the sun rises no more.
You talk of ‘arrogance’, that’s exactly his middle name; ask yourself why people are resorting to violence when they seek service delivery.
Siphiwo Qangani with kangaroos on August 4th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
The NEC is simply implementing the decision of the ANC highest decision making body - National Conference, so it is incorrect for anybody whether you are a philosopher, politician or journalist to blame and expect the leadership of the ANC to undermine national conference in order to please ANC critics and praise singers of the Scorpions.
Secondly, I believe that the decision to incorporate the Scorpions into SAPS is not based on the struggle to protect certain individuals as alleged by the article but on the recklesness of the unit and its threat to national security and sovereignity of the republic, it is reported that it employed foreign inteligent agencies overlooking NIA, it also compiled a very divisive browse mole report to destroy the ANC, it concluded questionable and dubious plea baragaining agreements with extremely dangerous criminal elements etc,etc (the least of reasons is endless)
Those who praise the Scorpions are mainly enemies of the ANC and are economical better off, their hatred of the ANC date back from its exile years and they will do so until they die.
Jon, part of our problem is that we have this “us” and “them” mentality, and that we label, insult and write off people who are not the same as us, or who do not believe as we do.
It is one thing to disagree or criticize actions or beliefs. This is where we can be intolerant if we wish. However, those “imbeciles” that you speak of are people as well - they are human beings just as you are. Flawed, possibly mistaken, but your brothers and sisters.
SIPHIWO, you’re making a very weak case against the President. He was within his right to run for President of the ANC; and nothing in that decision suggests that he had abused his power or displayed any measure of arrogance.
Your statements regarding Mugabe are childish and not based on any facts, but inventions of your overactive imagination. None of us is party to the dialogue between the President and Mugabe; and none of us can pronounce on the specific details of dialogue. What you are stating are just absurd and baseless insinuations.
I have to agree with Siphiwo on this one.In times such as these maybe one needs to step back and reflect.
There has been arrogance from the almighty Dealmaker, and some guys fought fire with fire and won in Limpopo. The continued trend is no surprise as “arrogance has prevailed over arrogance”!
Having said that, I do not see JZ as arrogant. He is still humble.It’s not one of his weaknesses (vices). There is a tendecy now to see anything untoward in the ANC marked with JZ’s name. I think this is unfortunate and sad.
We hear all sorts of emotional, high sounding angry words from some quarters which are baseless and hollow.
When we deliberately inflate our statements and ignore any decency to think that we could be wrong, then we too are arrogant.
Was the ANC before JZ’s presidency any different? I think it has been arrogant since TM’s time. It has been unaccountable to the electorate. It has not delivered to the majority of the population and this certainly is not JZ’s fault. It is not only, “since Polokwane” but a continuation from days of the recent past.
Whether arrogance will lead to demise is questionable in the medium term. I do not see any impeccable political leader or party that is in any different situation. All bark and no solutions is what I see from them.
There is no denying that the Scorpions dug their own gave!, but a debate for another day.
Sentletse, quoting someone doesn’t really validate your position, infact it limits your thinking.Xolela might be your role model but I think his style of debating doesn’t cut it in public discourse. Quoting people may do well with assignment markers but not in real life debate. For example, what makes the quoted individuals’ words final? What were the conditions like when they make those statements? Would they say the same thing today if the same situation was to arise. It’s baffling that you seem to imply that the losers in polokwane are squiky clean and reasonable and on the other hand the winners are the evil reincarnated.By the way not all the 4000 delegates voted for the kangaman as you claim.Some voted for the Native Intellectual and by extension you Sentletse. Again if you were to add the membership lists from which the number of delegates was determined, you’d probably find more people than the oft-repeated 4000. I know Helen Zille has bandied about the 4000 delegates, unfortunately those who see her as a role model have never questioned her false assertion. Should we now start questioning election results just because less people went to the poles.Is democracy not based on the people who voted? I can bet you Sentletse, inspite of the arrogance of the kangaman group, the anc will win the elections by more than 55%. The kangaman will be smiling down on you on street poles nogal.
MAFUYANE, nowhere have I seen a company being liquidated merely on the basis that its CEO or executive has acted in a manner not consistent with the expectations of the shareholders. When such instances arise, the board, acting on behalf of shareholders, will show the relevant executive the door.
The same applies to the DSO (Scorpions). If there were certain elements within the unit that misbehaved, it was then incumbent upon those in higher authority to relieve those individuals of their duties. We have seen action being taken againt Pikoli for reasons you have stated. None of the employees of the DSO are bigger that the unit; that if one oversteps his/her mandate then the existence of the entire unit has to be a jeorpady.
Arguments thusfar advanced by the ANC for the disbandment of the DSO are extremely lame.
JZ was NOT chosen because he would be a good president. He was chosen because he was charismatic, could do a good Elvis Presley interpretation, and whip up a mob - to protect the ANC as a front man against corruption charges.
From 2007, when Andrew Feinstein’s book “After The Party” was published we ALL know his theory that the arms deal was done to give kickbacks to the ANC. What a terrible waste of money which could have been used for service delivery!
If the ANC had come to power in say the 1970’s then OR Tambo would have been president of a one party communist state. I doubt that he would have been any different from present leaders.
Mandela goes down in history as a great leader BUT had he come to power 20 years earlier, how would we judge him now? Would he have become a mad Bob?
So I don’t beleive that present leaders are any more or less leaders than previous leaders as previous leaders were not tested in the same way as present leaders are.
It is very interesting to see how time we spend to complain about the leadership in the ANC when there are a dozen of opposition parties to vote for.
Do we have that much trust in the ANC?
Do we believe that if the ANC can’t do it no one can?
Shouldn’t we blame the opposition as much for not giving South Africans an alternative?
So, why do millions of imbeciles vote for these deadbeats, then? The answer is simple Jon. Scum always rises first to the top of a cest pool…and flies are always drawn to a rotting carcass and shit!!! Comprehendo?? Many Vivas, Umshini Wami
lots of people say lots of things, but until leaders start doing something instead of spouting meaningless drivel, nothing will get done…
“From the world of darkness I did loose demons and devils in the power of scorpions to torment.” charles manson
Stop writing as if are brainwashed or empty of brains! All over the world, governmental mandate (pilicy and administratively wise) is derived from political mandate emerging from political parties. This means, the ANC-LED Government implements the policies of the ANC as would be the case with DA, NP during apartheid, DP in US etc. When such happen, you don’t call it “arrogance”, but politics in their own nature and character - it remains a game of competing interest.
In a democracy, it is not strange to realize that the dominant ruling ideas are those from the ruling party. As in like during apartheid, the ANC did not require consensus from confused idiot like you to justify its cause, but persisted till moron like you received a freedom to talk, write and be listened to without fear of prejudice - now you are sh..tn in the same freedom fountain that ensure that your enshrined rights are protected and enforced.
Even if you can jump to the nearest dam, you will never realize a scenario whereby all citizens of the country are politicians who have access to ANC conference, but for those who are members and sympathetic to the ANC, 4000 delegates are sufficient to bring required changen in our country as they had always been during apartheid - so nothing has changed, maybe only in your fashionable mind you think 1994 democratic breakethrough meant the ANC ceases to function as it used to. Be ashamed of yourself!
SIPHO, although there is always something to learn from the minds of others, Xolela is none of the people falling in that category.
You seem to be admitting that there is a possibility of “vote of no confidence” by voters. You don’t talk of two-thirds majority which the ANC enjoyed under the leadership of President Mbeki.
OBZINO LATINO, you need to be mindful of the fact that none of us is indebted to the ANC for reason that it brought us liberation. Its leaders must be held accountable as and when their conduct is dubious. We are not going to be held to ransom or intimidated into silence by certain elements within the ANC who are resolute in their desire to advance their self-serving interests.
I don’t think it really matters whether they achieve less, more or exactly what mbeki achieved. I’m just being generous here seeing that you exagerate every role Mbeki has played in the anc body politic. The question is where are the opposition parties in this scenario.All of them have allowed themselves to be pre-occupied with one man, yes just one man,(kangaman as you would say) at the expense of the voters. Did the anc get a 2/3 majority during the mandela elections? If you want to identify problems Sentletse you’ll see them in every thing the kangaman(to use the word coined by the Sunday Times) does. tee hee hee heee
You are quoting Zumarite propaganda which has already been disproved.
What people are forgetting is that the Scorpions were SUPPOSTED to be in charge of the Arms Deal investigations, BUT when the files and requests came from Germany and Britain, they were sent by Mbeki to the SAPS and Jackie Selebi instead - to investigate them, or to bury them?
AND was THIS why Mbeki could not act against Selebi?
Sipho
I have not heard Helen Zille talking about 4000 delegates, but I certainly have heard MANY people say the same on SAFM. It is news to me that Helen Zille controls the national broadcaster!
The fact that you hang on every word Helen Zille say and in this case you happen to miss her mention of the 4000 delegates cannot be blamed on me.As for Zille controlling the public broadcaster is news to me as it is to you.I’m battling to understand how you arrived at that startling conclusion.
To follow your logic, can we say the supreme court of appeal judges are controlled by the media, since they use the infamous “general corrupt relationship”statements which was coined by the media.
The Special Browse Mole report was publicly denounced for its divisive contents and the DSO admitted that it is its product, this was not alleged by Zuma.
Vusi Pikoli was recently grilled and castigated at the Ginwala Commission of Inquiry for employment of foreign inteligence operatives and he did not deny that as a fact ( is this Zuma’s propaganda?)
Mark Thatcher was let off the hook by the Scorpions in a plea bargaing deal and Glen Agliotti is another dangerous suspected criminal amongst other who benefitted from such deals, does this sound like Zumarite disproved propaganda in your ears, maybe it is because your ears suffers from selective hearing.
I am perturbed at the arrogance that Sentletse and this Lyndall have displayed throughout their correspondence.
Where do you think we live wena Diakanyo? You are overloaded with philisophy and that is clearly evidenced by all this quotes that you deem to be absolutes. You need to attend EQ for your own benefit. if you already have try Advanced EQ because you really can use some feelings training. We will go and vote and if Zuma will not be in jail he will be our president by majority VOTE. Your Money, Education and friendships “in high places” will leave you a lot more frustrated after elections next year because you too (two) will be reminded that you are just a few loud mouths.
Jon Doe
voters are not fools and it is foolish to suggest that they may be. Just because you wake up to an apple everyday doesn’t make you smarter than any lessprivileged voter out there and certaily not me. Intelligence is a gift people are born with it both rich and poor, academic or not. Jacob Zuma is a good example of my ascertion.
Like Mugabe says to the west “GO HANG 1000 times”.
I listen every day from 6-12 to SAFM and MANY people have discussed the lack of democracy in the pressure group of the 60% of the 4000 at Polokwane! WHAT is your point? Helen Zille was not at Polokwane! And how can I hang on to her every word? Where am I supposed to hear her? On SAFM?
Mafuyane
Plea bargains are done to catch bigger fish. It happens to be the ONLY way to stop organised crime. In the full context, believe it or not, Zuma is merely small fry. I happen to agree that the Mark Thatcher plea bargain was disgusting - done to catch SA citizens in Zimbabwe to appease two dictators! Obviously they had to let Mark Thatcher off the hook - or the spotlight of the world would have been on those same two dictators!
Lyndall Beddy, my point is that you’re selective in your reading and hearing. You say things because you can not because they make sense.You started with 4000 delegates, now you’re talking of 60% of 4000 delegates, which is which here. As an ardent DA supporter I would expect you to attend every DA walk about to hear Ms Zille. The difference between Mr Zuma and Ms Zille’s supporters, is that Mr Zuma’s supporters are not shy to declare their support for him.
The Browse Moele report investigation has already revealed that the Scorpions/NPA computers were tampered with. Who do you think had the motive other than the arms deal fraudsters? AND it appears that it would have likely been former “foreign intelligence agents”. Looks like more than one group were using them! And the Scorpions have no access to intelligance except from outsiders, when they suspect people inside the system of corruption. They can hardly be asked to investigate themselves! Like this lovely little fairytail that they did not have to supoena Zuma for proof of corruption - he would willingly have handed it over- Get real! And why would they incriminate themselves by tampering with their own computers?
Sipho
I have already said, many times, that I support a coalition of all the opposition parties.
60% of the delegates at Polpkwane voted for Zuma and 40% for Mbeki. That is why the figure is 60% of 4000. That is NOT complicated maths!
The ANC is a big organisation hence the focus on it. The tendencies you alluded to are witnessesed in all corners of South Africa today, even in churches.
Lyndall Beddy, since you seem to be on the know, which percentage of the delegates took the polokwane resolutions.What happened to the other percentage that wasn’t part of the resolution deliberations? Did they pack their bags and went home or sat outside the venue until resolutions were taken? It seems you only split the delegates when it suits your agenda.This is not a good start to forming a coalition of the opposition parties.
They spent so much time on voting that they pushed through all those important resolutions on the last day, with it would appear little discussion, and when some of the delegates had already packed up and gone home.
And how do I know ?- I listened through the whole conference to SAFM and even sent them an sms bagging them to adjourn because there was not enough time left properly to consider the agenda!
Lyndall Beddy, you haven’t answered my question which is, what was the percentage that took the resolutions. Did mbeki and those who voted him also participate in the ‘little discussion’ that took place? If they did not, you can’t blame anyone for people who sulk after losing an election. Is it not about time we reinforce a culture of accepting defeat and encourage people to regroup and contest next elections. You denounce the winners today, they’ll do the same next time you win.
The voting was supposed to finish on the first two days - it did not. They fought and argued about everything, even that the votes must be counted manually not electronically. The voting finished on the Second last day and the resolutions were just rubber stamped on the last day.
The vote was 40% to the Mbeki camp and 60% to the Zuma camp - except I think those descriptions a bit deceptive. The differences are about tactics and control not about leaders.
As for the resolutions - they were prepared by Joel Netsitenzhe and team before Polokwane (when he was still in Mbeki’s team) so I think you can safely say there were no policy differences, and that both sides wanted the Scorpions out. As for the oft repeated “resolutions taken at Polokwane” - Rubbish! They rubber stamped them! ALL of them - both camps! This was NOT about policy but about power! They did not even DISCUSS the resolutions together in conference!
Lyndall Beddy, so why are you so generous to the Zuma camp when all the resolutions were drafted by the Mbeki camp? Why would Mbeki want to dissolve the scorpions when they are not personally giving him a hard time? I would have expected him to fiercely resist the dissolution of the scorpions since they are dealing with his rival.
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Sentletse Diakanyo has a keen interest in everything else that is beyond the realm of his expertise; from world politics, history, economics, philosophy, to motor-racing. He is inquisitive about everything and a master of none. He writes what likes, without fear or favour.
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Sentletse I agree with you, arrogance and politics are a dangerous mix.
How do you think we can facilitate the switch from leaders that are arrogant and do what they want, to leaders that are held accountable to the people? How do we get them to serve us, rather than us worship them?
If we can achieve that, our democracy will function.
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