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CHAOTIC scenes in the Johannesburg CBD this week - when supporters of opposition party DA and the ruling ANC clashed – reminded me of the violence South Africa experienced just before the first all-race elections in 1994.
Then, I was a news reporter for the Sowetan newspaper and covered the frequent clashes between the IFP marchers and supporters of the ANC in the Gauteng townships and the Johannesburg CBD.
Driving into the CBD on Wednesday this week, the smell of teargas that hung in the air and the general ambience told me that the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s democracy was actually going to be the turning point for the country.
I describe this as a turning point because it is likely that South Africa is poised to go back to the violent, nasty and brutish state that prevailed 20 years ago shortly before the first democratic elections.
Before those elections, South Africa’s economy was bleeding, it was shedding jobs and the violent clashes of political parties were a frequent occurrence.
Present day South Africa has the same peculiarities, showing the country could be facing yet another collapse of government and the ruling party if nothing is done to fix things.
During the run-up to the 1994 elections the brutish state of affairs led to the collapse of the apartheid government.
Is South Africa facing its own “Arab Spring”? Based on the signs that are on the wall, the answer to this question is a definite yes.
ANC supporters have allegedly become the instigators of violence in recent events.
This week, ANC supporters reportedly attacked DA supporters who were marching for the creation of jobs in the Johannesburg CBD.
According to tweets by the Mail & Guardian's Phillip de Wet, ANC supporters charged at marching DA members.
In Sebokeng last week, a youth was shot dead allegedly by members of the ANC who did not approve of the community's demonstration against local councillors and service delivery.
Earlier this year, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema and his supporters were attacked by members of the ANC when he visited Nkandla to build a house for a destitute member of that community.
This is a trend that is growing too quickly in South Africa, where ANC supporters engage in violent activities in an effort to block other parties or communities from exercising their democratic rights.
During the Arab Spring supporters of unpopular regimes took pot shots at legitimate protesters, sparking an untold upsurge in violence. Can this be avoided?
If, and only if, the ANC and its leaders ask their supporters to restrain themselves. Otherwise the ANC, which was previously loved by many people including this writer, will leave the seat of power like a dog, with its tail between its legs.
DA Gauteng premier candidate Mmusi Maimane said Zuma promised the country that the ANC would create 6 million jobs in the next five years, but that was not sustainable.
We did caution President Jacob Zuma at that time to desist from making statements that are not feasible.
I hope the ruling party starts working hard to make sure that it corrects all the bad things that its supporters are doing.
- Fin24
*Mzwandile Jacks is an independent journalist. Opinions expressed are his own.
Then, I was a news reporter for the Sowetan newspaper and covered the frequent clashes between the IFP marchers and supporters of the ANC in the Gauteng townships and the Johannesburg CBD.
Driving into the CBD on Wednesday this week, the smell of teargas that hung in the air and the general ambience told me that the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s democracy was actually going to be the turning point for the country.
I describe this as a turning point because it is likely that South Africa is poised to go back to the violent, nasty and brutish state that prevailed 20 years ago shortly before the first democratic elections.
Before those elections, South Africa’s economy was bleeding, it was shedding jobs and the violent clashes of political parties were a frequent occurrence.
Present day South Africa has the same peculiarities, showing the country could be facing yet another collapse of government and the ruling party if nothing is done to fix things.
During the run-up to the 1994 elections the brutish state of affairs led to the collapse of the apartheid government.
Is South Africa facing its own “Arab Spring”? Based on the signs that are on the wall, the answer to this question is a definite yes.
ANC supporters have allegedly become the instigators of violence in recent events.
This week, ANC supporters reportedly attacked DA supporters who were marching for the creation of jobs in the Johannesburg CBD.
According to tweets by the Mail & Guardian's Phillip de Wet, ANC supporters charged at marching DA members.
In Sebokeng last week, a youth was shot dead allegedly by members of the ANC who did not approve of the community's demonstration against local councillors and service delivery.
Earlier this year, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema and his supporters were attacked by members of the ANC when he visited Nkandla to build a house for a destitute member of that community.
This is a trend that is growing too quickly in South Africa, where ANC supporters engage in violent activities in an effort to block other parties or communities from exercising their democratic rights.
During the Arab Spring supporters of unpopular regimes took pot shots at legitimate protesters, sparking an untold upsurge in violence. Can this be avoided?
If, and only if, the ANC and its leaders ask their supporters to restrain themselves. Otherwise the ANC, which was previously loved by many people including this writer, will leave the seat of power like a dog, with its tail between its legs.
DA Gauteng premier candidate Mmusi Maimane said Zuma promised the country that the ANC would create 6 million jobs in the next five years, but that was not sustainable.
We did caution President Jacob Zuma at that time to desist from making statements that are not feasible.
I hope the ruling party starts working hard to make sure that it corrects all the bad things that its supporters are doing.
- Fin24
*Mzwandile Jacks is an independent journalist. Opinions expressed are his own.
