South African Choices
Ivor Chipkin's search for that elusive South African identity is a worthy endeavour. He is right to suggest that elements in the governing alliance have no interest in cultivating the "unity in diversity" for which our constitution calls. These proponents of the so-called "national democratic revolution" are inclined to refer to "the white nation" (whatever that may be) when they try to identify the antagonists of their revolution. There are also, of course, many ANC supporters who do not subscribe to the tenets of the national democratic revolution and, instead, regard the constitution as a sacred compact, whose values of non-racialism and non sexism in a multi-party democracy under the rule of law, they promote and uphold. The ANC alliance may eventually split into two groupings, one that goes the constitutional way, and the other, the way of the national democratic revolution. If the constitutional way is adopted, SA will keep its rightful place in the family of nations and prosperity via appropriate investment, job creation and education will be the order of the day. If the revolutionary road is preferred, a less certain and less peaceful outcome is likely.The underlying table instructively highlights some of the main differences between the constitutional way and the revolutionary way.
The Constitutional Way |
The way of the National Democratic Revolution |
| The supremacy of the Constitution |
The supremacy of loyalty to the party |
| Adherence to the rule of law |
The rule of the party bosses via the party list |
| Checks and balances on the exercise of power |
Tyranny of the majority unfettered by constitutionalism |
| An Independent Judiciary |
A tame judiciary loyal to the party |
| Chapter Nine institutions that function without fear, favour or prejudice |
Deployees controlling the Chapter Nines for the NDR |
| Professional, ethical, unbiased, fair and equitable public servants |
Winning hegemony for the NDR in the public administration |
| Multi party democracy with a mixed economy |
A one party socialist hegemony |
| Open, transparent and accountable governance |
Closed, opaque, cronyism without accountability |
| Responsiveness to the needs of the people |
Responsiveness to the ruling elite's lust for power |
| Oversight by Parliament |
Blind rubber stamping by Parliament |
| Non sexism and non racism |
Paternalism and chauvinism |
| Human dignity, equality and freedom |
Misery, exacerbated inequality and continued oppression |
| Respect for property rights |
Nationalization or expropriation of property |
| Upholding the other rights guaranteed in the bill of rights |
Advancing the revolution by all available means |
| Unity in diversity |
"Get out, Baas Ted, you are in a revolutionary house" |
Paul Hoffman SC
May 2010
NPO NO: 70681
