CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by James Brew, South Africa, June 1999
THEME = PERSONALITIES
South Africans are hoping for something
more than just a follow-on from Mandela
The Mbeki presidency opened with a call from Thabo for South Africans "to get to work". This came from someone who had been long waiting in the shadows, to display the leadership and diplomatic skills he acquired under the mentorship of the late Oliver Tambo, (ANC's president during its time in exile), and former State President, Nelson Mandela. Thabo Mbeki is the son of another leading ANC figure, Govan Mbeki. All these credentials give Thabo Myvuyelwa Mbeki the sort of status that evidently carry weight in the ANC and its affiliates. The need for a new ethic of leadership, commitment to hard work and a focus on delivery are at the top of his agenda. Frank Chikane, director-general at the presidency emphasised this point when he said: "The greatest challenge facing the government is to "deliver the goods"".
Chikane, a hero of the anti-apartheid struggle, believes the new government under Mbeki will create much greater efficiency in government. Thabo Mbeki is impatient with the slow pace of the way things happen. He also said at his inauguration, that the full meaning of liberation would not be realised until South Africa's people were freed from oppression and the dehumanising legacy of deprivation they had inherited from the past.
Symbolically, Thabo Mbeki's inauguration paid homage to those who lost their youth and their lives in trying to bring political and economic liberation to the country. He represents the generation who were groomed into leadership roles in the 1970s. He is a contemporary of such leaders such as the black consciousness visionary, the late Steve Biko, and the former MK Chief of Staff, Chris Hani, who was assassinated in 1993. They were leaders of the "young lions" who are often referred to as South African's "lost generation". It is Mbeki's responsibility to put in place measures to address the educational, ec-onomic and social needs of this generation.
Mbeki himself says the 1994 agenda hasn't changed but he looks to impose his own personal vision of the African renaissance, and one of the tools to achieve it, is affirmative action.
"Affirmative action isn't a philosophy. It's not an end in itself", says ANC member, Bongiwe Mculu. In her view, its an instrument to get a more equal society, broadly representative of South Africa demographic landscape. A major criticisms of the government's economic policy has been that despite GEAR (the Growth, Employment and Redistribution policy), there has been no job creation.
South African attitudes towards the government's economic policy are difficult to gauge seeing as only 22% of the population have ever heard of it. GEAR is simply one possible reading of the Reconstruction and Development Plan (RDP). GEAR has been strongly opposed by the ANC's alliance partners - the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist party (SACP).
The new cabinet shows that Mbeki has been wise not to make changes where sensitive portfolios are already under competent management, notably those of finance and trade and industry. He has selected a balanced cabinet geared towards "delivering the goods". The new cabinet also underlines Mbeki's priorities for government. These include: Overhauling and cutting the over- manned public service down to size; improving the criminal justice system; addressing the weaknesses in local government; boosting the economy through tourism.
The increase in the number of women cabinet ministers has confirmed Mbeki's commitment to gender balance and advancement. They occupy eight of the twenty-eight posts. The peace initiative in Congo RDC, and South Africa's role in a possible peacekeeping operation, is a crucial responsibility which will test the extent to which Mbeki's South Africa will strive to achieve the rebirth of Africa.
African diplomats have reason to expect a more pro-active foreign policy on the African continent under Mbeki's government. The signs are good. South Africa's active participation in African affairs is largely attributed to Mbeki. He has promised that South Africa will contribute to the success of Africa's renaissance.
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1999 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement