RW Johnson: Pali Lehohla’s election postponing pipe dream – rebooting would not ‘fix’ the ANC

RW Johnson doesn't hold back on his criticism of the former Statistician-General Pali Lehohla's proposal to postpone the 2024 elections for national discussions on the future of South Africa. Lehohla, a senior member of the ANC, divides the party's 30-year rule into two periods, praising the initial 15 years for progress and blaming the latter half, particularly the Zuma and Ramaphosa eras, for regression and corruption. Johnson argues that Lehohla's call for a new Codesa (Convention for a Democratic South Africa) is naive, citing the current power dynamics, corruption, and criminal elements within the ANC. He reflects a growing loss of faith in the ANC, predicting a decline in support in the upcoming election due to dissatisfaction with governance and service delivery issues.

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By RW Johnson

Pali Lehohla, the former Statistician-General, has proposed that the 2024 elections be postponed so that "frank talks" can be held about what sort of country we all want to build and live in. In Lehohla's view, if we go ahead with elections, our politicians will just continue to lie and steal, corruption will continue and this will bring "calamity for all South Africans". The alternative, in his opinion, would be to hold a new Codesa involving "communities, civic groups, politicians, business and religious organisations".

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