The recall of Thabo Mbeki by the African National Congress’s (ANC) National Executive Committee has less to do with the performance and policies he put in place as president and more to do with the internal conflicts in the ANC. If Thabo Mbeki's recall truly stemmed from his policies and leadership style he should have been recalled a long time ago. He should have been fired for ramming through economic policies that left the structure and ownership of the economy largely unchanged, along with policies like the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) strategy which liberalised the economy and helped drive tens of thousands of jobs and widen inequality. His HIV/AIDS policies resulted in the avoidable death of hundreds of thousands of people living with the condition, who were denied proper medication, nutrition, access to basic services and information about the disease. His attack on free debate and his interference in independent state institutions such as the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), the Medical Research Council, the Medicines Control Council and others were sufficient for him to have been impeached by a consistent ANC-dominated parliament committed to the constitutionally guaranteed independence of public institutions in an open and democratic society. These current conflicts centre on the allegations of corruption linked to the arms deal and the factional struggle for power and privilege associated with access to positions in the ruling party and government, including black economic empowerment ‘deployments’. Amandla Publishers adds its voice to the many South Africans calling for a full investigation into the arms deal so that those implicated in corruption can be prosecuted and those falsely accused can be cleared. A full and transparent investigation must occur.

Amandla Publishers supports the call for a judicial commission of inquiry into the arms deal whose hearings and report must be open to the public, and following which each and every individual implicated in corruption and other crimes must be subject to criminal prosecution without fear, favour or prejudice, while those unfairly accused of corruption and other crimes should be publicly cleared. We call for public vigilance and mobilisation in support of the progressive values of our constitution. We call for sustained social mobilisation to advance the socio-economic interests of the poor and working people and the building of left voices and platforms.

The political leadership of our country seems to waver on its commitment to a modern, plural, open, progressive and vibrantly democratic system, a neglect which underlines the need for poor and working people to actively and robustly use their social power (including those progressive aspects of the South African Constitution) to advance their interests.

This crisis also shows that South Africa needs a different politics: a progressive popular politics, an efficient state providing quality public services, clean governance untainted by fraud and corruption, transparency and competence in the state and all public institutions.

For this we need campaigning trade unions, political parties, civic organisations, social movements, community based organisations, churches and others united behind practical and easily understood objectives. As Amandla Publishers, we commit ourselves to work with others to contribute to the building of such organisations that promote social and economic growth and development that prioritises and meets the needs of ordinary poor and working people.

* Amandla! is a new and exciting popular Left monthly magazine launched in South Africa in April 2007 by Amandla Publishers (www.amandla.org.za). The publication provides coverage and analysis of current political, economic, social processes, events and struggles from a radical left perspective.

*Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at http://www.pambazuka.org/