The Face of the Organisation Is Key to Its Identity
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THE SUNDAY 6 independent 2014 Elections independentTHE SUNDAY 7 JULY 21 2013 JULY 21 2013 THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE MILITANTS What exactly attracts the voters:Is it the dance,the beret,the botox,the party history,the posters or the content of manifestos? HE SAYS what most politicians do not dare to say publicly. He appeals to a constituency HE IS popular and charming – a drawcard at ANC SHE HAS rebranded the Democratic Alliance AS AN ex-ANC Youth League member and LABELLED one of South Africa’s most LEKOTA gained significant popularity after the ANC has been able to monopolise for rallies. In a country where the voters roll is to be a truly non-racial South African entity. University of Fort Hare graduate, Buthelezi leading the first major break-away party from years: the rural, township and squatter camp dynamic women, Ramphele – a dominated by the working class and the poor, She has managed to slightly change its styles himself as a peer of struggle icons like the ANC since Robert Sobukwe’s PAC. He poor. A gifted orator, Malema’s rhetoric businesswoman, academic and respected he is an asset to the organisation. His character, making it more visible in the former president Nelson Mandela and Oliver international figure – has the necessary continues to receive substantial media resonates with disenchanted and unemployed youth, who ascendancy to the top echelons of power in country’s townships. Her attempt at speaking coverage, largely owing to his parliamentary Tambo, all alumni of the Eastern Cape credentials as a veteran of the anti-apartheid South Africa and the ANC, despite his lack of formal education, constitute the biggest threat to the stability and cohesion isiXhosa and her toyi-toying have – while frowned upon by outbursts. As a former minister and ANC front-bencher, he institution. He is also fashioning himself as a statesman and Struggle, through the Black Consciousness Movement. She has endeared him to millions of party supporters. He has of the country while their challenges are not addressed. the likes of Malema – made some black DA members feel a voice of reason in the National Assembly. What sets is vocal and critical yet regal in her approach to politics. repeatedly demonstrated strength and the ability to withstand has outshone his opposition peers in the National Census 2011 revealed South Africa is a young nation, with welcome. She pushed for the elevation of several of the Buthelezi apart from many politicians is probably his Targeting South Africa’s middle class, Ramphele has taken a and survive political turbulence. His warmth and affable Assembly. He is fiery, fearless and tells it like it is . nearly 60 percent of its 52 million people aged under 39 – party’s black members into influential leadership positions. longevity. His erstwhile homeland counterparts have long personality disarm opponents. and most unemployed. His radical programme of hard line on government performance, corruption and the Her no-nonsense and vocal stance on corruption and passed their expiry date. He has been in Parliament since lack of good leadership and is well known to the mature nationalising key sectors of the economy is a game- service delivery resonate with the middle class. She is 1994. He has the ear of most South African presidents and changer in the political sphere and sets his party apart as a and educated voter. She is likely to appeal to the business accessible via social networking sites and is willing to he has survived numerous scandals, including Inkathagate non-mainstream “militant” outfit. sector as well. Independent-minded, robust and eloquent, engage with average South Africans. in the early 90s . she is still viewed more as an activist than a politician. BEING of royal blood, Buthelezi has led the MALEMA suffers from what is politically SOME IN the ANC believe he is a liability, citing IRONICALLY, it is her accessibility on social his controversial relationship with the Gupta LEKOTA is struggling to shake off perceptions IFP for almost four decades like a traditional called a “credibility crisis”. He is facing networking site Twitter and her sharp tongue that he is a power-hungry politician. He has leader, confusing dissent with personal charges of corruption, fraud, money- family and security upgrades at Nkandla as and ever-so-quick thumb that has caused UNLIKE Malema, Zille or Zuma, Ramphele issues that hurt the party’s image. Luthuli spent almost the entire period after serving betrayal. For years he had chosen to hear the laundering and racketeering in connection lacks the fire and passion to move the Zille the most harm. Her tweet about Eastern divorce papers on the ANC fighting with voices of sycophants who want him to stay with how he made his money in his home House’s internal research has shown that Zuma Cape students in Western Cape schools electorate. is not popular among the urban middle class, especially in fellow leader Mbhazima Shilowa for the on and marginalised those who felt the IFP could survive province of Limpopo. Currently out on bail, after he was being “education refugees” and her tiff with artist She is seen as intellectually aloof and status- Gauteng, the country’s economic centre targeted by the presidency of Cope. Like Malema, his temper undermines beyond his tenure. This has cost the party dearly. He has accused of making R40 million from corrupt activities, conscious, which could repel ordinary voters opposition. His ascendancy to power has come at the expense Simphiwe Dana triggered a backlash and accusations of his emotional intelligence. His resentment of Zuma and the presided over two post-1994 splits. Founders of the Malema , with a R16m tax bill that raises questions about racism. Some in her party privately accuse her of imposing who prefer down-to-earth leaders such as Zuma or of major factional cracks in the party, including the formation of ANC has resulted in him neglecting to build his ailing party. National Democratic Convention (Nadeco) and the his business dealings, has earned the “tenderpreneur” title. populists like Malema. two breakaway political parties within five years. The mysterious her preferred people on the party. Despite her efforts to National Freedom Party (NFP) abandoned the IFP after Politically shallow and arrogant, his temper and foul mouth and inexplicable manner in which criminal charges against him rebrand the party, perceptions that it is still lily white spats with him. Buthelezi, 84 , formed the IFP in 1975, leads have always been his Archilles heel. Some in the ANC – who were dropped fuels perceptions that he cannot be trusted. remain. a shrinking party, reduced to a tribal outfit confined to KZN couldn’t stand Zuma – didn’t want to be associated with and the hostels of migrant workers. Malema before the ANC’s conference in Mangaung. BRIEFING Political leadership The brand of party leaders can often dilute the values of the party The face of the organisation is key to its identity INSTON Churchill once said Atta Mills, died unexpectedly) with an adjust- heroic personality. Houphouet-Boigny of the Zuma, and the newcomers – the wounded and STAFF REPORTERS black and middle-class leaders”, such as DA parlia- Africans as we do about those that affect whites DA politicians. “politics are as exciting as ed status quo message that played to his ambi- Ivory Coast was known as The Ram who charismatic Julius Malema of the Economic mentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko and party and, second, find a way to bridge the racial divide She is regarded as a voice of reason, and per- war, and quite as dangerous”. tion and youth: “Better Ghana – Working for defends his People; Kenyatta as the Flaming Freedom Fighters, and academic Mamphela RESIDENT Jacob Zuma is known to spokesman Mmusi Maimane, who occupy plum on ‘identity issues’,” Coetzee wrote. haps presidential material. W In politics, says Thomas You”. Spear of Kenya; Nyerere as Mwalimu Ramphele of Agang. Joining the fray will be charm his supporters with his song positions in the party. His warning means the personality of a leader But elections are about numbers. Sweitzer, a US political media Campaigning in Africa can be seen in three (teacher); and Malawi’s Kamuzu Banda com- the stalwart authoritarian, the IFP’s Mango- and dance and speaks their language; The party grew further even after a new threat can be an asset or a liability. Contrary to Ramphele’s contention that she was adviser, “all the planning and strategy collide distinct phases – pre-independence, independ- bined a severe European look of trilby and suthu Buthelezi, the combative leader of Julius Malema’s rhetoric stirs the emerged in the form of Cope. For instance, the ANC under the intellectual in touch with ordinary working class folks – who at a single place and time. In war, the battle- ence and post-independence. In each of them three-piece suit with an extraordinary capac- Cope, Mosiuoa Lekota, and the civil Kenneth P crowd while Helen Zille’s toyi-toying However, the DA’s impressive 16.7% of the vote Thabo Mbeki was perceived – by its own members make up the majority on the voters roll – she is field is Waterloo or Gettysburg. In politics, the there were always two archetypes of political ity to play to the crowd. Meshoe of the African Christian Democratic and Xhosa clicks differentiate her in 2009 is a pittance compared to the ruling party’s – to be elitist and out of touch with the majority hardly seen or recognised in the informal settle- battlefield is the voter’s mind.” leadership and campaigning. The reach and appeal of many – such as Party.