Fikile Mbalula demonstrates how badly the ANC, and South Africa, need thinking politicians

I was not really taken aback by the ANC’s secretary-general boasting about how he and another member of Parliament representing the ANC lied under oath in Parliament to protect their then leader, Jacob Zuma, from accounting for his alleged accusations of crime. Mbalula arrogantly, and without regret, boasted about abusing their majority to render democratic institutions useless, such as a dishonourable Parliament or Cabinet.

Our current political landscape has drastically lost the intellectual feature which existed at the end of the 1990s. The ANC’s post-2007 national conference in Polokwane institutionalised and in a way systemised corruption in the public sector. The ANC at the time resolved to dismantle corruption busters such as the Scorpions at a time when the unit was acting with intent against corruption. Then there were attempts to introduce authoritarian legislation such as the Protection of State Information Bill and others which would enable corruption in government apparatus.

As we engage in what we term comparative politics in political science, I was compelled to look at the history of the ANC where I had to assess the quality of all the secretaries-general the party has had since 1912. I concluded that Mbalula is the worst. He does not compare to the dignified and reputable previous SGs such as Sol Plaatje, Selope Thema, Bud M’belle, Saul Msane, Mweli Skota, EJ Khaile, Arthur Calata, Elijah Mdolomba, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Duma Nokwe, Alfred Nzo or Kgalema Motlanthe. I did not mention Gwede Mantashe and Cyril Ramaphosa because I think they and Mbalula are birds of a feather.

Mbalula’s revelations… should lead us to critically assess the entire political landscape in the country and suggest ways to rescue South Africa from savages masquerading as politicians.