Book review: The Fall of the ANC Prince Mashele & Mzukisi Qoba

By now my fellow readers have established that deep inside of me lives a political animal, that will one day emerge as a Political Analyst. Whilst, I disrupt worldviews and analyse referring to books I am called ‘’controversial’’ by my peers. Maybe I am or maybe I am not? Let me say that I grew tired of tiptoeing around matters that affect me directly which is ‘’politics’’.

I will use my right in accordance with the South African Constitution which is my right to freedom of speech (Section 6). I will not abuse it nor participate in character defamation. I will uphold respect. If I find that the weight of my words bring offence, I will be humble enough to apologise publicly. 

I am glad that I cleared the air. I believe with politics or reviewing political books mainly that this book is associated with the African National Congress, I need not be misquoted. As a South African citizen who shares peculiar views or sentiments around the ANC many will not be pleased. In most cases party members don’t like to be confronted with the reality or truth in relation to the ANC. I say this as a former ANC member who dearly loved and respected this political party. I say this as a former ANC member who hopes that the party will one day take accountability. 

Now, as an African book reviewer let me first acknowledge Mashele and Qobo. This masterpiece was penned and published in 2014. I purchased the book around that time whilst I was still heavily invested in ANC party politics. My naive self would fight anyone who came for ‘’my beloved ANC’’ in my presence. I went as far as believing in my own mind that this political party would govern for the next three hundred years. Yes, my naive younger self had hopes and dreams for this political party. When I stumbled across this read, I was angry at these authors. In my naive state of mind, how could they write about ‘’my beloved ANC’’ and attach ‘’fall’’? Fall where I would ask myself silently. How dare they make such predictions about ‘’my beloved ANC’’?

In 2025, I would love to give them their flowers and applaud them for this masterpiece that they put together. I highly respect both the authors and their work. Not only is this a masterpiece. It is a prophecy. It is a prophecy fulfilled. I hope on my end I can build on the predictions and like the authors wait patiently for the party to take accountability. For more context, please purchase the book and read it. I hope this review sparks your interest in reading African literature and political developments in South Africa.

I have mentioned before that I am a former ANC member. I supported what the party represented through and through. I understood the vision and supported the policies. I embraced that although fairly new to govern, people-centred government was the core value. I supported the employment equity act as a young African female. I was not blind to the flaws that the party has. I wore a defense cape out if anybody was ready to attack. I always defended the ANC. I became very popular on social media because I appointed myself as a spokesperson of the political party for free. All this is because I believed that my relationship with the ANC was a healthy one. 

This is because I held on to what the movement stood for post Apartheid. I held on to the belief that the political movement was a platform for liberation in South Africa. I held on to the belief that we as an African nation would be free. However, as the years progressed I grew weary and tired. I grew tired of the promises that change would come. A day came where my tiredness turned into enough. Enough, why are we turning a blind eye to our communities? Enough, why pretend to love us when we attend rallies before the general elections and then afterwards we crawl back to poverty. Enough, why are you hugging us in the streets for your campaigns and not giving us lasting solutions?

Therefore that was an end of my relationship with the ANC and affiliation to political parties in South Africa. I emerged a voice in Africa.

As a voice in Africa, I address matters from a place of love for the African continent however without bias. 

The truth accompanied with evidence shall set the nation free and free indeed.

I will not retell the history of oppression however, rather express the outcome that the Apartheid policy left on our beloved land.

Since the existence of the Apartheid policy, the legacy of racism and segregation is still starkly visible. This is because the Apartheid policy was a system. Systematically the laws under the policy were designed to divide. This meant that groups of people had to live and develop separately. The separation of the groups is what birthed the legacy of an unequal society in South Africa. 

Although many Black South Africans are no longer confined to the rural areas. There are many Black South Africans who lack basic amenities in their settlements and heavily rely on the government. The ANC being the ruling party since 1994 has over the years made many and myself question its readiness to govern South Africa. Chapter two ‘Ready to Govern’ expands more and offers a very profound perspective. 

If we as a nation interrogated the readiness of the ANC to govern right now, we would associate it with our liberation struggle. Studying the political party from the outside, I’ve witnessed a growing party lacking in evolution. What I mean is that the political party holds on to the liberation struggle to keep it in existence. The ANC movement is not evolving, unlearning and relearning its place in South Africa today. Although in government for over twenty years now, principles used to ‘’free’’ South Africa from oppression back then still apply today. Bear in mind, South Africa is a diverse country. Diversity also means realigning to the present. 

With that said, based on my observations not only does the ANC need to take accountability it needs a realignment strategy fostered by learning (unlearning and relearning). I will recommend where the political party can begin. 

Addressing the widening gap of the older voters (witnessed the ANC struggle) and young people not attached to the struggle

Our elderly generation is very old and frail. It is disheartening to watch them wither away. Having stood by the ANC for so many years, their faith in the political party is tested. As they head to the polls, their only hope is for their children to experience change under the ANC government. This is because they still embody oppression in present South Africa. In everything, they believe that the ANC will one day save their children. 

Now what happens to the younger people not associated or attached to the struggle? They either don’t participate in the general elections and don’t associate with any political developments in South Africa. What nation will this be when young people are not involved?

ANC, fix your house now!

This is the time for you to unlearn, relearn, realign and rebrand to the younger people. You cannot rely on the older generation to carry you.  More so, because you still want to govern South Africa. Remember, your existence. Stop stealing from your people. Take accountability of your actions. Just do the work!

You were once loved by many. Restore hope because the nation is bleeding. 

This is a book review with purpose. 

Former ANC member here. Any former ANC members please drop a comment? Tell me why you stopped renewing your membership?

#ANCrealignYourstrategy #ANCtakeaccountablityNOW #ANCstopStealingFromUs 

Insightful read and prophecy fulfilled. 

 Book 8 in 2025.

Phiwe Mncwabe is storyteller, blogger and voice in Africa.

More stories–https://botlhaleafrika.co.za/ 

Instagram– _ uphiwesa_ waseafrica_ 

Tiktok- phiwesa_ waseafrica_ 

Twitter– Phiwe_ Mncwabe_ 

LinkedIn– Phiwe Mncwabe

No Facebook account

I am not affiliated to any political party. I am affiliated to the Africans. 

The views that  I share are mine and not affiliated to any employer. These views are not meant to bring harm.

Let’s talk about Africa. Which African country must I visit next? 

Read Africa. Write about Africa. Put Africa first!

The hashtag to follow is #africabelongstoUS , #amplifyingvoices, #authenticstories