JCH 2010 Volume 35 Issue 1

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Browsing JCH 2010 Volume 35 Issue 1 by Subject "African National Congress"

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    The 23rd African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) conference in Bloemfontein: a Polokwane political hangover?
    (Faculty of the Humanities, University of the Free State, 2010-06) Twala, Chitja
    The ANCYL played a significant role in the history of the ANC, therefore the actions of its members at their 23rd conference in Bloemfontein were disturbing for the ANC. Already in the build-up it was clear that rivalries between factions were rife and before the conference started there had been disruptions. The article highlights the reasons behind the rivalry and the ANC’s leadership’s handling of the situation. The rivalry was not due to ideological differences but to support for personalities. The ANC leaders and ex-ANCYL leaders aired their dissatisfaction with the unruly conduct and the pursuit of political self-advancement. Many members rejected the outcome of the leadership election and the congress was adjourned. The ANC intervened and at a closed session later that month the election of the five officials and the National Executive Commission was maintained. A number of organizational, policy and leadership issues were discussed. The divisions were, however, still apparent. The conference in Bloemfontein was obviously a political hangover of the ANC’s conference at Polokwane.
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    Jacob Zuma's "Zuluness" appeal during the April 2009 elections in South Africa: an attempt to break the IFP's grip on Zulu social and political structures?
    (Faculty of Humanities, University of the Free State, 2010) Twala, Chitja
    The article reflects on the role played by Jacob Zuma as President of the African National Congress (ANC) using his Zuluness to break the Inkatha Freedom Party’s (IFP’s) political control of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province. The rationale for this venture by Zuma elicited an outcry from the IFP, which for long had used the Zuluness appeal in the province to garner votes during the elections. It is therefore argued that the use of the Zuluness appeal by Zuma and the ANC helped the organization in winning the April 2009 elections in the province. The author negates the widely held simplistic viewpoint that in the KZN province, the ANC was mostly voted into power because its President was a Zulu. Therefore, the article scrutinises arguments for and against the usage of Zuluness as an appeal to galvanize support on behalf of the ANC.
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    Die omstandighede en aanleidende faktore in die “herontplooiing” van die eerste Vrystaatse premier, Mosioua Lekota (1994-1996)
    (Faculty of the Humanities, University of the Free State, 2010-06) Moll, Johan C.
    The ANC’s National Policy Conference resolved on 29 June 2007 that the premiers of the provinces would in future no longer be appointed by the President but by the Provincial Executive Committees, the National Executive Committee thereafter approving or rejecting the recommendation. One of the inducements that has led the ANC to change its policy in this regard was the grim experience in the Free State when the offices of ANC provincial leader and Premier did not coincide, causing so much strife and dissension, that the national leadership was forced to intervene repeatedly, which in the end resulted in the drastic decision of “redeploying” the Premier and various other Free State ANC leaders. This is an analysis of the conflicting views of the Free State Premier and provincial party leaders regarding the nature and underlying rationale of their respective positions of authority which also bring into central focus the terms of the constitution versus the authority of the party. The framework within which these issues are analysed is the dictatorial views within the ANC regarding the relationship of constitutional and party political interests versus white views on the inviolability of the constitution.
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    Tendencies of a dominant party system in the Free State Legislature (1994-2008)
    (Faculty of the Humanities, University of the Free State, 2010-06) Joannou, N. A.; Coetzee, T.
    Dominant party tendencies exist either when a single party enjoys monopoly of power through the exclusion of other parties, or when the electorate continues to re-elect the same party despite the existence of other political parties. Dominant party systems display various characteristics the tendency to rule for a prolonged period of time; complacency and corruption; competition within the dominant party; a weak and ineffective opposition; and, a blurring of lines between the party and the state. Under the apartheid regime, the National Party dominated the political system. In 1994, through a process of transformation, South Africa held its first democratic election. The African National Congress (ANC) won the election and successive elections, and has since governed by majority. This has led critics to argue that South Africa is becoming a dominant party system. This article discusses dominant party tendencies in the Free State Legislature. In the four elections held since this transformation process of democratisation began, namely 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2009, the ANC dominated the Legislature whilst the opposition remained weak and ineffective, with no viable alternative for the electorate. Despite protests against service delivery and transformation projects, the electorate continued to re-elect the ANC. These tendencies reinforced the pattern of ANC dominance and weak opposition.