Excerpt from William Gumede's new introduction to the autobiography of Assata Shakur

William Gumede, The Mail & Gaurdian

Poor governance, endemic corruption and self-enrichment at the expense of the poor black masses by South African and African ruling parties, governments and leaders spawn a perpetual cycle of racism against blacks.

Centuries of colonialism, slavery and apartheid have left an entrenched legacy of institutional racism across the globe, whereby darker-skinned people are often instinctively prejudiced in societies and invariably suffer from lack of social, political and economic power.

If the ANC's rivals are all right, what's left?

William Gumede, Mail & Guardian

Twenty years since the founding of South Africa's democracy, the country's existing party political system, the parties and their leaders appear unable to fulfil the needs of the majority of voters.

The increasing disconnection between the voters and parties undermines the accountability of the country's democratic system and diminishes the quality of its democracy.

It is rather obvious that any political party serious about winning an election in South Africa must grab a significant slice of the black vote.

If it was only so simple.

‘No Easy Walk to Freedom’: A new introduction

No Easy Walk to Freedom

by William Gumede, Pambazuka 

The first thing that strikes one as one reads the pages of Nelson Mandela’s speeches, letters and transcripts collected in ‘No Easy Walk to Freedom’, is that he and his generation of ANC and ANC Youth League leaders were political giants compared with the current cohort. During the “dark times” [1] of apartheid, the Mandela generation was far more visionary, intellectually astute, open to new ideas and far wiser.

Someone who occupies a position of authority and holds and exercises power is not always necessarily a leader. Leadership is about the quality of an individual’s actions, behaviour and vision. During the “dark times” of apartheid and colonialism, the Mandela generation offered a kind of leadership which was apparent in the quality of their actions.

With Nelson Mandela's death the ANC has lost the glue that kept it together

William Gumede, The Guardian

Nelson Mandela was the glue that held the deeply divided ANC together. Before his passing, he had been ill and out of active politics for many years, yet his mere presence had remained a powerful symbol for the ANC's rank and file. Mandela was a reminder of past glories, and a symbol of the hope that the ruling ANC might yet return to its democratic, caring and responsive roots.

Many ANC supporters believed that he either endorsed the current leadership, or was still involved in decision-making. This is one of the reasons why President Zuma and others in the leadership would wheel a clearly frail Mandela to campaign rallies, and why they were so keen to be photographed with him.

Zuma and Zulu nationalism

Zuma has skillfully used Zulu or African ‘traditions’ to cover-up poor personal choices, indiscretions and wrong behavior, and portrayed those who oppose such poor behavior of being opposed to African ‘traditions’ or ‘culture,’ argues William Gumede.

For most of the 100 years of the ANC’s history, two distinct strands of Zulu nationalism competed for dominance in the ANC, but especially in the KwaZulu Natal wing of the party, the one conservative, and more closed-off, the other, progressive and more inclusive of other communities.

ANC lacks internal democracy

by William Gumde, Pambazuka

The way in which the ANC elects its president is deeply flawed, is skewed towards churning out poor quality leaders and turns members and supporters into frustrated and impotent bystanders.

Firstly, the 4500 voting delegates that will vote for the ANC president at the party’s upcoming December 2012 national conference are not representative of ordinary ANC members and supporters, let alone the country.