By Nathi Mthethwa
Introduction
In the year 2000, the ANC held its National General Council, which arguably was one of the historic gatherings in its lifetime. This was one intensive and extensive cadre development school that witnessed high levels of political debates. Under the theme "A REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT .ANC AN AGENT FOR CHANGE", the Council displayed impressive levels of political maturity. It made introspection of the movement by reporting on successes and highlighting challenges in the broad task of building a strong ANC. A strong ANC is essential for the transformation of our society into a united; non-racial; non-sexist; democratic and prosperous one.
What made the gathering of this magnitude unique was that whilst it was of interest to society at large, its preparations were not deviated by lobbying for this or that position. Political debates and discussions were the hallmarks of preparations and this made it easy for the ANC to reclaim it's political stature of being a disciplined force of the left and a body of internationalists.
The participation was broad, involving all the major forces of the left and all cadres of the movement deployed in all facets of our society. The major question, which confronted the NGC, was how to change reality in the world and at home for the better. In order for this question to be responded to properly, the NGC acknowledged that the question of building a new cadre is central.
Why discussion on the subject of a cadre today?
I assume we all agree that a cadre is a prototype member of our movement; the subject is therefore relevant at all times. We are referring here to an all-round cadre, an organic revolutionary, a person who is able to interpret practically each message communicated to society by leading organs of the movement.
This year's call is for instance "United action to push back the frontiers of poverty". Within this call we are charged with the task of building a cadre of community development workers. According to January 8th 2003 statement, this cadre should be able to "...assist the people to tackle the immediate problems they face...including those relating to health; welfare; agricultural development; economic activity; education and safety and security." These marching orders need no rocket scientists, but ordinary disciples of change ready to serve the people. In the same breath, we need cadres with a high political consciousness in order to counter the ongoing ideological onslaught against the progressive forces.
The new dispensation has seen cadres of the movement being exposed to massive resources under their control. In most cases this situation has tested the commitment of such cadres to the cause of transformation. We have witnessed a string of un-ANC practices and tendencies of patronage, self-enrichment and cliques, to mention but a few. Clearly the new epoch is fraught with traps, which have eroded the fundamental ethics of the movement. The ability to differentiate between a wrong and a right by cadres in good standing is a clear indication that the ANC represents humanity's best qualities. Building a new cadre therefore, I would argue is in essence going back to basics.
Great revolutionaries like O. R. Tambo, Amilcar Cabral, Ho Chi Minh, Che Guevara et al, have in the past written extensively on the subject of building a new (hu)man or person, which in essence was about building a new cadre. Samora Machel spoke about the need for a new mindset and a new person during his country's independence in 1975.
Cadreship: Political Line and Tasks
There is a dialectical interrelation between cadres and a revolutionary movement of the masses. A cadre's life is lived within a framework of multi-faceted relationships. It is these relationships, which makes a cadre a cadre. In this relationship, a cadre is at the same time the cause and effect. Conversely a cadre is at the same time effect and cause. A cadre cannot be conceived outside an organisation, for a cadre is an element of the organisation.
A cadre lives in a definite organisation, s/he makes an organisation a living organism. On the other hand, after organisation has become a quantity existing in it's own right and has struck deep roots in life, organisation in its turn has a decisive effect on people. It determines who will do what, what position and function s/he should hold in apparatus of activity. It defines beforehand the direction and objective of human beings' actions. It directs people and obliges them to act one way instead of another. Organisation in it's activity, bring forth in people definite characteristics and qualities. It trains human beings. The capacities and people's activities depend on organisation.
On the question of a cadre, this is somebody who is ever prepared to learn, learn more and learn forever. As the Chinese proverb goes "Live as if you are going to die tomorrow and learn as if you are going to live forever".
Every cadre whatever the position in the organisation and whether an old hand or newcomer must study hard. The higher the position you occupy the harder you must learn for the higher your position the heavier your responsibilities. Errors or defects which can be caused by one's incapability inflict major damages in the forward march to building a strong organisation.
Cadres need to learn not only through books but also in practical life. In our own work, in summing up of the effectiveness of our work, we must engage in frequent self-criticism and criticism. Without learning from struggle and tapping on humanity's experience in life, book knowledge is worthless. The goal of learning for each cadre should not simply be limited to raising of knowledge, rather to achieve the best results in our activities and our work, which is our struggle to change the world for better.
Complete loyalty to the ideals and principles of the movement is a pre-requisite for a true cadre. By the way there is nothing like "blind loyalty", it is either loyalty as stated above or something else.
Former Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh would have said, "Be true to the party and loyal to the people, fulfill any task, overcome any difficulty and defeat any enemy". Other important ethos of a good cadre includes:
All this relates directly to the examination and resolution of the problem of cadreship. Cadres need to overcome all theories of reaction, which separate theory from practice and vice versa. The question is not only to increase individual productivity, but also to use co-operative methods in creating a new productive force made up of cadres that operate as a single collective force. The interconnection between a cadre and organisation goes thus: A strong organisation releases a potential strength in each person and the strength of each person makes the strength of the organisation. To that extent the opposite is equally true.
Cadres are trained and produced under a wise line. However the line itself is not dogma for cadres take part in the development of the line. Through practice they ensure the realisation of the line. Without competent and dedicated cadres the goodness of the line will be useless .If cadres are good and able they will not only help carry it out creatively but also contribute to its further development. Over and above, sound or correctness of the line, there are many other factors contributing positively or negatively on the life of a movement including one's personal attributes. A correct line is the basic condition in bringing the revolutionary tasks to success. Thus whether cadres are good or bad depend primarily on their political training and political line. Once a line has been worked out the next task becomes the organisation of its application - organisation is the basic measure to ensure the application of the line.
In our practical experience our organisation ( the ANC) has the ability to work out clear line and tasks, but most often than not we are found wanting on its application or implementation . This brings into sharp focus the role of our primary party organs - the branches. These organs are strategically located in the midst of the people and if properly utilised can be of great assistance to the movement.
In most instances there is no honesty among cadres and leaders alike in dealing with branches. How many leaders take part or interest in the day to day life of a branch for instance? Do we not remember them only when approaching conferences? Until we confront some of these questions we will continue doing disservice in the quest of building a cadre of community development workers.
It must not be forgotten that post 1994 there has been a qualitative change from struggle to power. Without understanding the essence of this big leap forward, or the content, nature and unprecedented scope of the revolutionary tasks in the new stage, it is impossible to examine and correctly solve the problem of cadreship. We are now a party leading all the people in the management of the country's affairs. It means the party's leadership has been extended to the entire society, encompassing all aspects of life, which are more diversified and complex. It means the introduction of new ethics into our revolutionary movement which are negative and positive. Cadres must be steeped in this understanding.
Leadership to Society
The revolution needs a contingent of cadres equal to political tasks, with regard to number and quality. These cadres must be capable of fulfilling to the highest degree the requirements of the political tasks in each period. There has to be a way of measuring progress or otherwise of these tasks. In the movement, a mandate by way of national congress resolutions becomes one major way of measuring success or lack thereof of those given responsibilities. These resolutions or mandate are the political line of organisation combined with broad policy questions.
Closing the ANC 51st National Conference, President Thabo Mbeki, spelt out in a comprehensive manner the line which should guide all cadres of the movement. On this there should no confusion nor ignorance on the tasks that lie ahead. The President said "On the consolidation of democracy and ensuring that the people govern or involving the masses in the transformation of their lives - we have the policies,
On strengthening of the system of local government or the role and place of the traditional system of government-we have the policies,
On economic growth and development, social equity or job creation-we have the policies,
On the eradication of racism and sexism or the advancement of vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, the youth and children -we have the policies,
On the resolution of the land question or integrated and sustainable rural development-we have the policies, On the eradication of urban slums or ending the apartheid patterns of settlement-we have the policies,
On a comprehensive social security system or human resource development-we have the policies,
On the struggle against T.B., AIDS, and any other threatening health conditions or creating socio-economic conditions necessary for us to realise the goal of health for all-we have the policies,
On the RDP of the soul or the fight for the safety and security of all our people-we have the policies,
Responding to the challenge of an inclusive language policy or the development of a new patriotism-we have the policies,
On the accountability of the public sector institutions and personnel or the accountability to the movement of our cadres deployed in these institutions-we have the policies."
So did the President go.
Why should it be difficult then for the cadreship to defend, interpret and lead communities in the implementation thereof? It is branches of the movement which must take up these policies/programmes thus mobilising our communities. From the national policy conference both our sub-regional and branch leadership went about explaining to the community the decisions taken by the said conference.
One amongst many such decisions communicated, was the increase of the age of child support grant from 7 to 14. By the time we went to national conference people were keen to know whether this would be endorsed at conference and subsequently by government. It is now common knowledge that both the 51st conference and government endorsed this. The point on this modest example is that this branch and community at large know that the originator of this legislation is the ANC. To this community no one would claim easy victory on this because they know what took place.
I am certain that other branches have performed many more important tasks than what I have cited above. On the Human Rights day for instance EThekwini region of the ANC launched the distribution of food parcel programme targeting the very needy families. These food parcels were fundraised by REC: another way of practically pushing back the frontiers of poverty by grassroots structures of the movement.
In simple terms the above constitutes the provision of leadership to society by our movement. Accordingly, the President made a call in ANC TODAY volume 3,No.9 that 'Every member a cadre for social transformation'. It means that as we assume areas of responsibilities we must be alive of the tasks we shoulder as individual cadres and collectively in the current epoch.
The task of building different layers of cadreship and leadership cannot be over-emphasized. There is no better way to sum up this issue than our former president comrade N. R Mandela's closing remarks at the Mafikeng conference. This is what he said ' I am certain that I speak on behalf of the veterans who graced this historic conference, and many others, when I say that, if we were fortunate to smell the sweet scent of freedom, there are many more who deserved, perhaps more than us to be here to witness the rise of a generation that they nurtured. But for the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Oliver Tambo, Moses Kotane, Yusuf Dadoo, J.B Marks, Lillian Ngoyi, Florence Mophosho, Kate Molale, Alex La Guma, Helen Joseph, Joe Slovo, Bram Fischer, Moses Mabhida, Ruth First and others would have been witnesses to the end of a lap in a relay that they ran with such energy and devotion.'
Principles of Organisational Democracy
The discussion document in preparation for the 50th National Conference of the ANC is comprehensive on this. It deals with sub-topics like 'Democracy as a goal, Principle and part of our strategic approached' (see ANC website). However for purposes of this document we will concentrate on the enumeration of principles of organisational democracy without expatiating on it. The importance on these principles cannot be over emphasised since they reflect on an ideal cadre for the movement. The details again, would need to be searched in the ANC website. These principles are: elected leadership, collective leadership, consultation, National Conference as the highest decision making body, mandates, accountability, reporting, criticism and self-criticism and democratic centralism. These are core principles towards building a new cadre.
Conclusion
This debate is ongoing, non-static and dictated to by challenges of each epoch in a given situation. To further probe this one would to direct cadres of the movement to specific documents like the NWC's pamphlet 'Through the eye of the needle' and 'Conduct of a new cadre' prepared by ANC Gauteng Province. The work of organising and politicising ANC members has been done by thousands of political organisers over years. For purposes of this document I dare to mention the late leader of our people, cde Steve Tshwete, Ma-Thomas, Nyambose Mthethwa, Vusi Mzimela and many more who have in practice shown us what it means to be a true cadre of the movement.
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