22 February 2007  

 On behalf of my colleagues, I would like to warmly welcome members of the media corps. I am grateful that you are here so early after working against the clock to meet your deadlines yesterday after the Budget.

Benjamin Franklin famously observed that there are two things in life one can be certain of: taxes and death. The Finance Minister provided some relief on the former yesterday and, who knows, with this overflowing cup of economic good news, the ruling party may make an
election promise to do something about the latter in 2009!

More seriously, we have organised this breakfast to strengthen the conversation between the IFP members of parliament and you. The IFP cannot convey its message without you, the media. We are dependent on you to spread our message. I feel that you have given my party and me a fair wind in recent months which we sincerely appreciate. Thank you. I hope together that we will continue to foster our relationship in the months ahead based upon mutual respect.

It is no secret that the IFP has been through a difficult period in recent years. We have had to look at how we do things and how we position ourselves in response to the momentous challenges South Africa faces. This is difficult for any organisation.

The IFP team has emerged stronger, leaner and determined to serve the people of South Africa better.We will raise our game this year. I will return to this in a moment.

In setting the tone for the year ahead, we need to consider the wider political picture. To use a cricket analogy, the bowling is likely to be rough in 2007. The nation is transfixed by the drama unfolding in the ruling party as it prepares to elect its new leader and, in all likelihood, future President of South Africa.

I would like to reiterate my hope that the president will forget the background noise of the succession debate within his own party - he does not have to concern himself with re-election - and focus outwards as President of the Republic. He has, I believe, still a major contribution to make to consolidating good governance in South Africa.

We - nor should anyone else - derive any satisfaction from a directionless government over the next two years. South Africa needs and deserves a confident government shadowed by a responsive and nimble opposition. It's not the ANC's fault if the opposition does not perform its role to hold the government to account and, when necessary, to provide an alternative.

As most commentators agree, the real fight within the ANC is not between personalities, but for the ideological soul of the party: its very essence. This is interesting because ideology, once the essential ingredient of politics, is disappearing fast from the political discourse worldwide.

Yesterday's notions of 'left', 'right' and 'centre' have become increasingly problematic. Spotting whether a policy is left wing, or a move to the right, depends on many things, including subtle shifts in political context, and a dialectic between politicians and parties. As a result, challenging incumbent governments on ideological grounds has proved futile in many democracies. I suspect it will continue to be futile here.

With this in mind looking ahead, I believe that the 2009 election will be the last "apartheid bonus" for the ruling party as the party that derives the most electoral credit for political liberation. Politics is set to become more fluid with voters looking for greater choice like shoppers in the marketplace.

Being in opposition, particularly as the third party; squeezed by a huge ruling-party and a well-oiled official opposition, requires a stern frame of mind. It also requires stamina. Lots. To be relevant, a party must find the hairline crack in the argument of the day, pick up the hammer and deal a strong and decisive blow.

The issue of crime is an example which everyone is talking about at the moment.
The President has responded to the public's outcry about crime by announcing that the government will beef up police service personnel and speed up the criminal justice system. While this is welcome news, we still need, I contend, a more profound rebalancing of the justice system in favour of the victims of crime.

I repeat today that even if the government's adopted the entire IFP approach to crime - which would be a good idea - we will not defeat crime until we build a new moral order. I called this a "respect agenda" last week. Adding to the existing police service personnel or making alterations to the criminal justice system will not bring about a moral revival which I believe is the prerequisite to a society of mutual respect. I was pleased that the Finance Minister echoed this yesterday.

The South African people have been led to believe that the progress our nation has made so far is the best they can get. We must give them a narrative to convince them otherwise. Within the rules of the democratic game we will have to compete with many other political parties for our people's attention. I believe we will do it. All we ask of you is for a fair chance to make our case.