FORGET PAST LOYALTIES, VOTE FOR THE PARTY THAT DELIVERS

(My letter in today's Pretoria News)

The article by Moshoeshoe Monare, “Ideological nostalgia does not secure a future” (Pretoria News, February 7) is an insightful article that touches on the problem of South African politics, namely, traditional ANC supporter’s blind loyalty to the party.
I don’t have to convince Monare that this liberation movement failed to transform itself into a political party, subscribing to a constitutional democracy underpinned by transparency and accountability. He clearly hints at this in his justifiable critique of the ANC.
Monare’s comments about misplaced nostalgia towards the ANC, reminds me of what the late Dr Frederik van Zyl Slabbert said: as long as we are kept hostage to a racist past, we must make provision for a racist future. This is the problem with our political discourse - the ANC’s abuse of identity politics that offers them an advantage at the ballot box, despite poor service delivery, incompetence and corruption.
Monare labels the opposition as useless, with which I don’t agree. I however, share Monare’s concern about the ANC’s unjustifiable monopoly on South African politics.
What is to be done? Traditional ANC supporters should cross their own rubicon by not voting for the ruling party if it does not deliver. That is the democratic and patriotic thing to do.
The DA’s philosophy defies any racist ideas. The only criteria that applies in the DA is Fit for Purpose. Voters who are tired of the ANC’s empty promises must join the DA and outnumber the ANC at the ballot box.