The ANC is asking some honest questions

There has been a political furore since an article published in the City Press on Sunday 04 March 2012. It quotes a discussion document by the African National Congress (ANC) that mentions a desire to relook at some of South Africa’s key policies decided in the early 1990s when our constitution was written. Things such as private land ownership, ‘willing buyer, willing seller’ with regards to land redistribution, independence of the judiciary, the power of the Constitutional Court etc have all been raised.

Many spheres of the media and opposition have jumped on this and acted as if this is ANC policy. What they have neglected to mention is that while these questions may seem a bit outlandish and frightening for South Africa let us see it for what it is: a discussion document. The ANC has a long history of asking tough questions that no one else wants to ask. They also have a long history of rugged debate. All the ANC is doing here is asking questions for discussion and I laud them for questioning things that are seen as sacrosanct and untouchable. We are a developing country in every sense of the word: economic and political, and when we stop asking questions we die.

Also, some of the questions asked in the ANC discussion document are very self-reflective, such as their inability to provide services and the view that they are becoming a party seen as plundering the coffers of the state. Why is it that the media and the opposition parties are not mentioning these?

If some of the discussions mentioned in the document were to become policy I would be the first to disagree, however, in the mean time let us praise the ANC for their honest appraisals of themselves and the country. I say “Well done ANC for asking some honest questions”

Why I won’t be protesting the tolls with COSATU

In the media as well as on this blog there has been a lot of time given to the tolling of the Highways around Gauteng. Now that the government has added R5.75 billion to the coffers of South African Road Agency limited (SANRAL) the tolls will now be 30c per kilometre for passenger vehicles.

I previously stated that I was considering joining the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) protest, which will now be taking place on the Wednesday 7 March. I have decided not to join the protest action for the following reasons:

1.COSATU has called the protest a joint protest against the tolls and labour broking. While my stand on the tolls is the same as COSATU my stand on Labour broking is at odds with theirs. I do not want to be seen as protesting both.

2.COSATU are protesting against the government but they are alliance partners with the ANC and are in government. I feel they are misleading the public by calling a protest against government policy. If COSATU disagrees so vehemently against government policy they should remove themselves from the alliance.

3.If we are not happy with the government we have the power to get a new one; voting is the real driver of change. Rather than protest I will be using the power I have to bring about change, I suggest you do to


That is why I won’t be protesting with COSATU. What will you be doing?