Will the ANC be a good opposition party?
How is the African National Congress going to Swim against the stream? (Ilker)
The ANC has not been in opposition (except at the Local Government level in some towns and cities across South Africa) for 15 years. The style of opposition that it provided 15 years ago is not the style that is required in the modern democratic South Africa. There is no need for the violence and retaliation that marked the last years of apartheid. There is no need for using the trade unions to cause civil disturbances. There is no need for trumped up charges. There is no need for drawn out legal wranglings over every piece of legislation. The DA will have been elected to power in the Western Cape through a democratic election with universal suffrage and therefore deserve an ANC opposition that reflects, and is in-keeping with, a modern democratic state.
Could the ANC point out the problems of the DA provincial government in a way that is non-confrontational? Could the ANC compliment a DA provincial government when they do something well that is on the agenda of both parties? Could they, hopefully, not use the might of central government to ram through power grabbing or populist policies aimed at winning the next elections?
And finally, can there be a bit of quid pro quo? Could the DA limit some of the over the top rhetoric and attacks on the ANC, especially Jacob Zuma? Will the DA, likely to still be the official National opposition occasionally actually praise them, or maybe even just some of the ANC people in government.
