REJOICE NGWENYA COMMENTARY: South Africa's Dangerous Flirt With Socialism

The founder of the libertarian Coalition for Liberal Market Solutions (Zimbabwe) is worried that neighboring South Africa's ruling African National Congress is veering toward policies long favored by Zimbabwean ruler Robert Mugabe: "Themba [sic] Nolutshungu’s compelling evidence of the genetic relationship between Communism and Apartheid is ground breaking. He should know better, for he has lived in the worst of the two worlds – Apartheid South Africa under the blistering abuse by the Boers and, of late, African National Congress’ South Africa that pays little homage to transparency. At a time when the free world is commemorating the destruction of the Berlin Wall, his fellow countrymen housed in more secure walls at ANC’s Luthuli House, are obsessed with reconstructing the communist dragon. I suspect that the architects of ‘socialist revival’ may have been too young to taste the bitter pill of overzealous state control."

He continues his commentary: "Now, we all know what socialism does to minds, but poor South Africans, promised heaven by ANC; have their mouths wide open waiting for Pretoria to provide houses, jobs, transport and medical care. Arguably one of the biggest economies in the Southern hemisphere, South Africa’s dangerous flirtation with socialism is only one of the ways to join the rare club of LDCs [least developing countries]. The other is to give trade unions too much say in business policy. It must be hard for Jacob Zuma, stuck with Communist Party baggage from the Stone Age and having to contend with populist rhetoric from Julius Malema [the controversial head of the ANC's youth wing]! Given this paralysing unison for government benevolence, one gets the impression that the average South African is lazy. With all that access to technology and innovation [no doubt created by a few liberal, diligent brains], why would thirty million healthy, able-bodied citizens expect Central Government to do everything for them? With so much access to credit – and most South Africans drive fancy cars – why not use that fire power to build own houses and start own businesses? How does COSATU [Congress of South African Trade Unions] and the SACP’s [South African Communist Party, which is allied with the ANC & COSATU] proposition to nationalise ‘strategic assets’ create more jobs?"

More commentary from Mr. Ngwenya: "The danger with socialist paranoia, like we experienced in Zimbabwe, is that it does not separate patronage from corruption. Those who are in charge of ‘nationalising’ assets use the opportunity to enrich themselves at the expense of the ‘weak’. Their rabid reference to ‘successful capitalists’ smacks nothing but of a sinister motive to rob Paul and pay Peter. The ANCYL [ANC Youth League] has plenty sermons on why [mining oligarch] Patrice Motsepe, worth a whopping R14.2 billion [US$1.9 billion], is the richest South African. In their blind frenzy for the wholesome adoption of socialism, they even argue for the nationalising of already existing state assets!"

Final thoughts: "Communist dictatorships are controlled by small, wealthy elite that live in obscene gluttony but campaign collective ‘good’. Their names are emblazoned in neon lights; therefore it is impossible for progressives to buy their propaganda. There are many private companies in South Africa that have successfully supplied motor-vehicles, food and furniture. If the government cannot effectively fulfil its core mandate – that of good governance – what makes ANCYL believe that bureaucrats can run business ‘for public good’?"