Support for ANC breakaway

[Vox Populi Vox Dei]

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0,,2-7-12_2400196,00.html

Cape Town - Almost a quarter of black people polled in a phone survey this week support the formation of a breakaway party from the African National Congress, research company TNS said on Friday.

Just over half the whites questioned thought it was a good idea, with support dropping to 43% among coloureds, 19% among Indians and 22% among blacks.

"Whilst [overall] support for a breakaway party from the ANC is in the minority, nonetheless, it is significant," TNS said.

"That 22% of the black sample feel it is a good idea is notable."

The survey was conducted among 250 people in the major metropolitan areas with access to landlines.
* * *

'Wait-and-see stance'

This showed many people were adopting a "wait-and-see stance".

"Nonetheless, at present, Mr Motlanthe has a somewhat wider support base than Mr Zuma," TNS said.

Most people felt - and here there were no differences by race - that Mbeki should not have been axed by the ANC in the way he was.

But just under two thirds said they were positive about South Africa and its future.

Only problem is that it only 250 people were interviewed...and all of them are middle-class.

 

[semiautomatix]

/holds breathe

 

[LazyLion]

/me supports breaking the ANC

 

[Arthur]

/me supports breaking the ANC

Careful what you wish for.

A fractured political landscape can plunge the country into disaster. In this transitional phase (maybe 20-40 years?) we need stable politics and strong leadership.

If our political landscape were to balkanise along tribal/racial/class/regional lines the central political and civil institutions could weaken and whither, leading to endless warfare between the groups, with no-one having the chance to ever win and rule. Endless war and strife ensues.

Yes we can do with a smaller ANC majority and a larger more effective opposition. Much as I dislike it, the glue that holds the ANC together also holds much of the country together. We have loyalties that transcend class, culture and race - and in the absence of other better transcendant values, this might be the best we have until our democracy matures...

 

[charles's birthday card]

Good post, Arthur.

 

[Ady]

Arthur as much as i hate to agree with you (i'm not a fan of the ruling party) you hit the nail on the head.

 

[LazyLion]

Careful what you wish for.

A fractured political landscape can plunge the country into disaster. In this transitional phase (maybe 20-40 years?) we need stable politics and strong leadership.

If our political landscape were to balkanise along tribal/racial/class/regional lines the central political and civil institutions could weaken and whither, leading to endless warfare between the groups, with no-one having the chance to ever win and rule. Endless war and strife ensues.

Yes we can do with a smaller ANC majority and a larger more effective opposition. Much as I dislike it, the glue that holds the ANC together also holds much of the country together. We have loyalties that transcend class, culture and race - and in the absence of other better transcendant values, this might be the best we have until our democracy matures...

Yikes!!!!

Why do you have to make so much sense!


.. ok then... how about we just break the tripartite alliance??

 

[Alan]

Careful what you wish for.

A fractured political landscape can plunge the country into disaster. In this transitional phase (maybe 20-40 years?) we need stable politics and strong leadership.

If our political landscape were to balkanise along tribal/racial/class/regional lines the central political and civil institutions could weaken and whither, leading to endless warfare between the groups, with no-one having the chance to ever win and rule. Endless war and strife ensues.

Yes we can do with a smaller ANC majority and a larger more effective opposition. Much as I dislike it, the glue that holds the ANC together also holds much of the country together. We have loyalties that transcend class, culture and race - and in the absence of other better transcendant values, this might be the best we have until our democracy matures...

Well said

There's a very real danger that a split in the ANC would turn violent

 

[stoke]

When does a democracy mature though?
3 or 4 generations?
i.e. When we achieve a 60% matriculated population?