TIMES change no matter the country and we are seeing that no more clearly than in South Africa, at the moment. Throughout the apartheid era in that country, the only credible opposition to that travesty of a socio-political system was the African National Congress whose leader, Nelson Mandela, spent 27 years in jail for crimes that included sabotage against a state that was a despicable remnant of the heartless colonialist imperialism practiced by the British and the Dutch and their fellow Europeans in Africa in the 18th and 19th century. Mandela's release from prison in 1990 and his support of reconciliation and negotiation in taking South Africa forward allowed the ANC to transform itself from an opposition movement of armed struggle into a political party that would dominate the South African stage. As too often happens, however, unity is easier to achieve in opposition to an oppressive government than in governing itself. And after 18 years, the resignation of Thabo Mbeki from the South African presidency – forced from office by a rebellious faction of the ANC, say some, or voted from office by the ANC, say others – has opened a split in the party that may well result in the establishment of a new political party in South Africa. Mosiuoa Lekota, Mbeki's defense minister, resigned after Mbeki was ousted, and now has announced that he will pursue the establishment of a new party, ostensibly one that would have the grassroots support of the people who have tired of the ANC infighting. Lekota has plenty of experience on the battle lines, having fought apartheid from inside South Africa, orchestrating violent protests in the 1980s that led to Mandela's release from prison. His is a powerful voice, then, which does not carry the baggage of the corruption charges that hound Jacob Zuma, the ANC's pick to succeed Mbeki as president. The general criticism is that the ANC has lost its democratic ideals as evidenced in the essential removal of Mbeki without a vote by the public. If Lekota is able to form a new party that will challenge the ANC in a democratic arena, South Africa and, indeed, Africa as a whole will profit. If, however, Lekota is just a poor loser, as some say, and simply wants to stay in power, then no one will come out ahead. __
