GNU formation affirms the power of the ballot box, says Prof Matebesi

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The formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) is a huge affirmation that the ballot box has power. This is according to Prof Sethulego Matebesi from the University of the Free State who emphasises that GNU is an example to many on how democracy works.

The University of the Free State’s Department of Sociology invited academics in sociology, political science and governance from various institutions to reflect on how different spheres of society will be impacted by the GNU.

Prof Sethulego Matebesi argues that the GNU is pertinent and it will have huge ramifications on party leaders and the local government elections.

Collaboration

Matebesi adds that he saw it fit to gather academics and students in one place to unravel the tricks within the GNU. He stresses that the GNU has great potential for collaboration but can also lead to contestation that can affect the well-being of South Africans.

Matebesi says the South African voters are the winners in the current state. “South Africans have the power to change the mindset of the leaders. In actual fact, what we are experiencing now and witnessing is democracy at its best. Because the voters voted, the African National Congress (ANC) accepted the results without making a hullabaloo around that. That for me is something that I think, for many generations to come. We, the current generation, should be proud of what is currently happening.”

Policy contradictions

According to Professor Patrick Bond from the University of Johannesburg’s Sociology Department, policy contradictions among the parties in GNU could drive a wedge that will create friction in the long run.

Bond believes that there’s also a possibility of friction that might arise from within the ANC that can also threaten the longevity of the GNU. He adds that policy differences could lead to the end of what he calls a government of neo-liberal unity.

“There may be frictions logically between Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen. One of them Steenhuisen being a Zionist who thinks that as we put it one man’s side genocide is another side’s freedom fight. So there are obviously huge ideological differences and what we saw in 1994 to 1996 was a break up of government of national unity, but I might be wrong. This might just be a temporary process either way if the ANC is strong and holds together or if it fractures and if it does, you can expect Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to make a bid they should be.”

‘Implosion of National Democratic Revolution’

Another academic from the University of Johannesburg, Dr Trevor Ngwane describes the GNU as the implosion of the National Democratic Revolution. Dr Ngwane says the country is where it is today because the working class and the ordinary citizens were failed by the ANC.

Dr Ngwane argues that even now the country is still in revolution.

“We are hoping that this gnu can help us but I think it will not help us if we forget who has got the power. Number one, the ordinary people are the ones who reduced the majority of the ANC creating this gnu. Number two the ordinary people have more power than just the vote they can actually participate fully and take power take control and change the history of the country so that things run in a way that favours everyone and not just a few.”

Dr Hlengiwe Ndhlovu says it is still uncertain whether gender is a factor in the current Government of National Unity. Dr Ndhlovu, from the School of Governance at the University of the Witwatersrand, says that no political party in the GNU has considered the issue of gender representation and LGBTQI+.

“Gender remains the biggest question when we are looking at the parties that have come together within the GNU, none of them has been very upfront and vocal about issues of gender. We know that the ANC ”has made some strides in relation to gender equity, and gender transformation within different spaces. But we are quite worried whether this agenda of GNU really centers on gender itself.”

Students also weighed in.

One says, “I really do think that it will have an impact on my life, especially given the fact that they are so neo-liberal in approach. I think that it will have wider implications on higher education policies, international policies, and on home affairs.”

Another student adds, “I’m truly grateful that I was able to learn from the experts in our department and from the guest professors as well. It was truly interesting to hear the views on the Government of National Unity from the social sciences perspective. So, going forward I think for these with me I think it sparked new ideas and probably potential research routes that I might take into this.”

Dr Carin Runciman from the University of Edinburg’s Schools of Social and Political Science says over the years voter turnout has declined due to abstentions. She adds that the decline started in 2004 general elections.