From Drum Magazine 4 July 2013
There’s a sea of white T-shirts bearing the name Agang and a sense of anticipation in the crowd as the feisty leader of the newest party on the South African political landscape raises her fist defiantly at the podium.
“We’re here to begin the restoration of the promise of our great nation and to offer the hope of a better future for every South African,” Dr Mamphela Ramphele says to rapturous applause.
“Corruption and a culture of impunity have spread throughout government and society.”
Ramphele can’t hide her disdain for “the arrogant manner in which the government has treated its citizens” and makes clear that Agang has begun a journey to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.
The recent launch gave the new party an opportunity to reveal its draft policies, which the party promises will address the wrongs in the current government.
Agang’s election manifesto will be launched in November. “Together we will restore the promise of a free South Africa, a greater future for our nation, freedom from poverty, crime and corruption,” Ramphele assures her supporters.
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“We will assure everyone a job, a home, a life of dignity, excellence in education, in healthcare and policing.”
A week before Agang’s launch DRUM caught up with Dr Ramphele at her Camps Bay home in Cape Town. She shows us into her comfortable lounge, where a widescreen TV is showing a game of cricket.
“Let me switch off the TV; I can’t focus on anything else while cricket is on. I’m a great fan of the sport,” she smiles.
With the TV off, we hear the sound of the ocean and the distant cries of seagulls. The lounge is adorned with several photos of Ramphele, Steve Biko and other leaders.
The 65-year-old former World Bank managing director tells us she will not rest until the closed party list voting system is amended.
“People should be able to choose their own leaders,” she says.
“One of Agang’s major goals is to win Gauteng and I don’t see why we can’t win Limpopo, Eastern Cape and North West too.” Ramphele is emphatic when she says Agang will have no alignments with unions, but that she will talk to smaller parties.
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Does this include former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, who’s planning to launch his own party, Economic Freedom Fighters?
Her answer is a resounding no.
“We want a rational conversation and that’s why we don’t want a Malema in our presence,” she says. Below are some of the issues Agang says it will address.
Agang Policies:
THE PROBLEM
Corruption: We can’t have corrupt officials enriching themselves when millions of South Africans don’t have good jobs, decent homes and millions of children go without school books.
SOLUTIONS Banning government officials and their families from conducting business with the state. Passing a whistle-blower law that rewards and protects those who expose corruption. Beefing up our watchdogs by increasing the budgets of the Auditor-General and Public Protector. Barring officials found guilty of corruption from running for office, holding government positions or receiving government contracts for five years. Creating a culture of transparency in government; MPs and their families to disclose their financial interests to the public.
THE PROBLEM
Health: Not every South African has access to quality healthcare. We have a healthcare system for the rich and a healthcare system for the poor. Life expectancy has also decreased.
SOLUTIONS
Make sure public clinics and hospitals work better so that people can access the doctors, nurses and drugs they need. Train and hire more doctors, nurses and other health professionals. Stop central government bureaucracy handcuffing the system and strengthen district health systems. Use the private sector to run our supply chains to stop corruption and ensure drugs and supplies are available.
THE PROBLEM
The Economy: A decaying infrastructure is hurting economic growth. Our infrastructure is R1,5 trillion behind where it should be.
SOLUTIONS
Ensure government is focused on job creation. Have a single economic plan. Link minister’s salaries to the attainment of job creation and economic growth targets. Invest in a massive infrastructure programme while creating jobs for the unemployed. Improve technology and infrastructure. Create incentives in tender processes to create apprenticeship. Require state-owned enterprises to spend a fixed amount on developing youth. Increase entrepreneurial opportunities by strengthening competition, law and industrial policy. Stop the harassment of micro businesses and informal traders.
THE PROBLEM
Education: The government mismanagement of our education system is robbing our youth of their rightful future. We have a second-class system – no one wants a nurse, teacher or plumber who only knows 40 % of the requirements in their field.
SOLUTIONS
Create a government with a will and urgency to tackle the problem. Aim to be a top 10 education system globally. Make our pass rate 50 %. Conduct subject-specific competency tests of teachers and provide intensive teacher training. Hire 15 000 more teachers with the focus on the unemployed with bachelor degrees. Provide additional grants to families for students who achieve a 70% pass aggregate.
THE PROBLEM
Public service: Only 2 % of government institutions received clean audits. R33 billion – enough to fund 15 000 teachers’ salaries – was misspent through unauthorised, irregular and wasteful expenditure in the 2011/ 2012 financial year.
SOLUTIONS
Train all government officials and employees in anti-corruption requirements and measures to avoid non-compliance. Mandate government officials and employees to sign a code of conduct. Define performance framework to enable public to hold government accountable.
THE PROBLEM
Safety and security: Citizens live in fear, government hasn’t invested enough in our police force, which faces massive shortages of equipment and specialised skills.
SOLUTIONS
Hire more police officers. Push up investment in police force. Completely redesign police training. De-militarise the police.
