The current crisis that has engulfed the African National Congress (ANC) is not a unique predicament to liberation movements in Africa. History has demonstrated that many movements in Africa that have led their respective countries to liberation from a colonial past often get soiled by the sort of political dirt as is the ANC currently facing. Corruption and mismanagement of state resources by elected officials is a malignant phenomenon in the political system of former liberation movements. With the current spate of revelations against senior ANC leaders alleging corruption and theft of state resources, the twist to the latest discoveries is that it is the youthful leaders of the former liberation movement that are at the center. However, the truth is that such exposés are not new to the ANC. The use of patronage to advance political ambitions of individuals and/or factions has been happening for many years. Regrettably, whereas the beneficiaries of such pursuits have been senior leaders, the foot soldiers to achieve those dubious goals were always younger members. Therefore, upon maturity, and having been dyed in the wool while they were still wet behind the ears, the once-youths have also come to master the trickery – some of them. They have assimilated the desire for wealth and opulence living inside an organization that represent the poor – some of them. The question that arise is whether this current generation of former youth activists and leaders can be the solution to the political credibility deficit experienced by the ANC at the moment. At the outset, it must be acknowledged that the section in question is already embedded in factions of the ANC. Once afforded an opportunity to be part of the leadership collective of the ANC, they do not pursue a distinct agenda that resonates with their constituencies. Instead, they become the axe through which political scores are settled. How different are they from the time when they were real youths? Their political agenda is not visible.

In attempting to interrogate the question whether this cohort is ideal to salvage what remains of the ANC, the answer is, not quite. The reason being that this group has not displayed any desire to lead but instead to be accommodated by older leaders of the ANC. And in some instances, they are their own enemies. Instead of formulating a strong lobby group, they allow themselves to be used against each other. All the same, who are these younger leaders? Currently, the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) comprises of a number of post-1994 former ANC Youth League leaders. Except for Lulu Johnson and Julius Malema, all former presidents and two former deputy presidents of the Youth League were elected into the current ANC NEC. With the inclusion of ex-officio members, the number of these former Youth League leaders is quite sizeable in the ANC NEC. Some are leading the ANC at provincial, regional and local level. In essence, as a training ground, the Youth League has produced leaders for the current ANC at all its levels. This means that if they had a common vision and mission, they could without harm influence decisions of the mother body. Unfortunately they do not represent a distinct agenda within the broader ANC. This is in contrast to the older generation who, for example, employ the muscle of the ANC Veterans League whenever they feel the ANC is swaying off the desired line. And by the way, the Veterans League doesn’t utilize any basic units of the ANC to canvass their views. They use the media. Products of the Youth League on the other hand do not have a collective duty to pursue in the ANC. They individually align with a view that secures what independently matters for them. There is no generational mission. 

Nevertheless, with this said, there is no hope for the ANC to survive now or in the future if it does not allow for this layer of leadership to provide ideas and options that represent the aspirations of the constituencies they once lead in their youthful years. It is nonsense to want to argue that “everybody in the collective leadership subscribes to the principle of democratic centralism”. These leaders represent a currently agitated section of the community. As if the harsh conditions dictated by Covid-19 are not enough, this restless populace also have to deal with news of allegations of their peers and former leaders illegally benefitting from Covid-19 funds. And perhaps this is where the curve ball suddenly appears. The truth is that accusations of graft are levelled against this group of young leaders. Therefore, questions about their suitability and appropriateness to rescue the ANC are valid. This, because the ANC cannot get its image cleaned by people who themselves are unclean or have clouds of dirt hanging over their heads. The controversy about reported politically-influenced procurement of Covid-19 PPEs becomes the black dot on the white sheet of the advancement of generational mix leadership. This cry, was aimed at empowering the best among the rest so that there shall be an uninterrupted handover of the leadership baton when the time comes. However, at this rate, there does not appear to exist a solidly prepared layer to hand over the ANC to. Perhaps this also explains why the older generation always emerge victorious from elections they contest with younger leaders in ANC platforms. It is either young people and younger activists do not have confidence in their peers in the ANC or the breed of former Youth League leaders are overwhelmed by tasks and are therefore failing to swim against the tide. The impact of money in today’s politics cannot be underestimated though. Some elders apply the strategies of money to sway popular action in their favor. This may overcome and stun even the most grounded leaders. What more of younger leaders who may still be crassly influenced by the love of money, material desires and opulence. It is also an opportunity wherein teachings of selflessness are brought to a test, and as it has been alluded above, these crop of young leaders are clearly not doing well to pass. 

One of the few attributes of good leadership is excellent judgment. If the generational mix plan is still being desired, younger leaders of the ANC must learn to exercise astute political judgment. In that way, the ANC will be bequeathed to a generation that will prioritize the aspirations of those it is supposed to serve and benefit, instead of individual ambitions. In the meantime, this generation must rethink their game plan, or rather develop one. The current crop has tarnished the lot and all that remains are accusations by elders that “you were not ready to lead”. This phrase may not be completely correct. However it is impossible to objectively challenge it if all facts are leading to a failure on the part of a generation to rise up to an occasion of providing good and clean leadership. Nevertheless, they are not to blame alone. Even the older generation must take their fair share of the blame for failing to develop a cadre that prioritizes the voters. This young one may not be adequately ready, but it is partly because those that have been there longer did not properly do their job of nurturing a suitable successive team. Unfortunately, in all this mess, the biggest victim is the ordinary person who has no elementary comprehension of the dynamics of the ANC.