PRETORIA – Political strategist Brutus Malada says it is unprecedented for the president of the ANC to ‘praise’ the DA.
But Cyril Ramaphosa’s remarks show it was necessary.
Ramaphosa told more than 4,000 ANC councillors at a Soweto roll-call on Monday that they should learn from their DA counterparts, conceding that many DA-led municipalities outperform those run by the ANC.
The party's national chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, went further, saying ANC councillors sing really well, but lack the capacity to run municipalities.
Malada says such statements are not completely without precedent.
He recalls a 1981 address by the then ANC president at a women’s conference, urging members to learn even from their enemies and use this to their advantage.
“It is very important for a government to learn from others. Civilisation rises and falls on the ability to look outward rather than inward,” Malada says.
He argues that the ANC has focused too much on protecting its "own cadres" instead of demanding consequence management.
He refers to reports highlighting the collapse of various ANC-run municipalities.
“Municipalities that were doing better were clear. The ANC could have engaged the DA back then instead of focusing on one other,” he says.
But Malada noting Ramaphosa and Mantashe's remarks he said they were not unusual.
Referencing back historically around 1981 when the president of the then ANC addressed the woman conference he indicated that one needs to learn form the enemy with his and their right tact can be used as a advantage.
"It is very important for a government from others. Civilisation rises and falls on one count- on the account of looking outwardly instead of inward looking.
"The ANC has focused on defending the cadres instead of demanding consequence management," he said.
According to Malada over the years reports have shown the collapse of various municipalities while municipalities that were doing better were clear.
Malada said the ANC could have engaged the DA back then instead of focusing on one other.