NEWS AND COMMENTARIES
| ARCHIVES |
The myth of the ANC: the complicity of the media in the disintegration of the South African nation.
C C W Kronenberg, January 2008
Following the South African ruling party catastrophe at its National Conference in Polokwane (South Africa), it is far too comfortable, if not opportunistic, for media spokespersons now to condemn the party for its organizational ineptness and political bankruptcy. While these appalling trends became more and more exposed to the nation in recent months, the party's muddled nature certainly is not a new phenomenon. During the Apartheid era many activists would attend what was then called 'the mass rally'. Regrettably, what often stared them in the face then, is but a replica of what's been exposed to the world now. Whilst many an enlightened 'comrade' would go to great pains to deliver his/her analysis of the situation on the ground, the crowds would chant and celebrate, regardless of what was being pronounced, no matter how serious. Fiery shouts of !Amandla! would often drown out the words of perplexed activist leaders. If not the mass rally, then street protests and marches were the order of the day. As a 'revolutionary' fighting the might of the Apartheid military, one but required a stone, or better still, half a brick, a disused motor vehicle tire, some fuel in a jam jar, and some matches. Many school buildings would bear the brunt of the youths' aggravation, resulting in the smashing up of glass panes and classrooms burning away. All of this happened under the watchful eyes of cadres who declared: 'liberation before education!'.
At the same time the critically-minded anti-Apartheid intelligentsia-- characterized by the stone-throwing throng as 'arm chair politicians'--likewise would engage with the oppressed masses. In this instance, these 'intellectuals' as they were also called, would after painstaking analysis and with listeners' full concentration, endeavor to spell out what the struggle really meant for them and for millions of others. On occasion the missile throwers, petrol bombers--disguised with scarves and balaclavas--would enter those meeting halls in quite a vociferous mode, proceeding to slash banners, placards and literature. Many times chairs were smashed to smithereens. The politically insolvent often succeeded in breaking down entire proceedings. Then Mandela was released. At this point in time the capitalist-controlled media (locally, continentally and globally) together with the emerging neo-liberal intellectual base, the petty-bourgeoisie, the fully-matured bourgeoisie, right up to the most powerful captains of capital of every conceivable shade, came to the realization that the head of this liberation movement must at all costs be exalted, hailed and propelled into eternity as the messiah of South Africa's struggling masses. (While Mandela's great human sacrifice in the liberation struggle stands to be respected, what exactly warranted this great honor and awe, usually only conferred upon saints and prophets of the highest possible order? Is it true that no other victim of Apartheid deserved this global tribute?). But the media organs were relentless: not only the man, but also the movement, would become South Africa's sole and only hope for the future. But the same movement had already signed a pact with past rulers of the land, even if their hands were dripping with blood. Prior to this immoral act, the movement had already explored what would transpire into a greater, far more important pact of treachery. It would be with men and women who intensely abused through economic power, the most harmless and defenseless of victims.
And through all this, the media would continue to exalt both the man and the movement. The media did not sound a national warning back then of what this inevitably would mean for the victims of this country. Was the media alerted to the ensuing catastrophe? Most assuredly so. But it chose to close its eyes and ears to the forewarnings of those whom the political rabble saw apt to discard as 'arm chair politicians'. The rooster is home and ready to roost: While the educational system is in shambles, the inappropriateness of an OBE system continues to be overlooked (in contrast, the discredited system is being enforced with even greater vigor). The economic system operating under the guise of GEAR has brought tremendous growth to the coffers of the commanders of capital, but little respite to the deprived masses. And while this is happening, the country appears more racially stratified than, dare it be said, when it was ruled under an official prejudiced order.
The current state of the ruling party, the unruliness, the disarray, the confusion, the political bankruptcy and unawareness, have all been witnessed before. This political anarchy and its ensuing ramifications for the ordinary people of South Africa, have been painstakingly analyzed and debated decades ago already. The scrupulous ideas, discoveries, and predictions of rational-critical thinkers can no longer be ignored by the media, or by the party itself. Should the media continue to pander purely to the ideology of market forces, then we are sure to reencounter again and again the words so candidly expressed: 'there it was, broadcast live on national television and available for the rest of the world to see, the disgrace of the ANC' (Cape Times Editorial, 18th December 2007).
C CW Kronenberg (Ph.D.)
Post-doctoral researcher and political commentator.