The FF Plus pointed out today during a parliamentary session on the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralisation, Local Governance and Local Development that the ANC government’s policy directions are in direct conflict with the principles and values set out in the Charter.
The African Union (AU) adopted the Charter in 2014 already. All AU member countries are bound by the Charter to, among other things, make the decentralisation of powers to regional and local authorities a central element of their government policy to bring about economic growth and better service delivery.
The implementation of effective anti-corruption mechanisms and measures to protect natural resources, like water, are also emphasised.
Central to the principles as contained in the Charter is the implementation of mechanisms to establish accountable local governments and ensure proper accountability.
However, since the adoption of this Charter in 2014, South Africa’s introduction and implementation of government policy has been in direct conflict with its principles.
The impact of this is obvious when considering the state of South African municipalities:
• Municipal service delivery has deteriorated significantly, especially since 2014.
• The looting of municipal resources and widespread corruption, particularly by ANC factions, increased hand over fist.
• Along with the mismanagement of municipalities, critical infrastructure has decayed to such an extent that the large-scale pollution of the country’s water resources has taken on epic proportions.
• There is basically no sign of local economic development in South Africa.
So-called interventions at municipalities by national and provincial government were, at best, ineffective. These supposed “interventions” mostly resulted in new corruption channels being created by the appointed “administrators”, better known as ANC cadres.
The ANC government’s so-called new District Development Model (DMD), which has been heavily propagated since 2019, has already proven itself to be just another set of empty government promises aimed at misleading voters in the run-up to the 2024 elections.
Apart from the fact that the ANC culture of corruption, self-enrichment and cadre deployment is inextricably interwoven into the party’s very fabric, the fact also remains that the ANC is apparently blind to the disastrous consequences of its non-viable socialist policy directions.
ANC policy is solely founded on the centralisation of power and the so-called “redistribution” of undeserved wealth. The results of it are clear for all the world to see.
With the establishment of a coalition government in 2024, the FF Plus will ensure that a clear policy for the decentralisation of powers and a dynamic empowerment programme for local economic development are put into practice. These are essential elements of a healthy government policy to facilitate sustainable economic growth and job opportunities for South Africans.
South Africa cannot afford another term of the ANC’s obsession with power and self-enrichment.
South Africa deserves better than the ANC.
;
