SHAWN HAGEDORN: ANC sacrifice of growth to support patronage is in vain
Party leaders would rather raise taxes and reinforce its inequity alibi than reduce public service wages
22 April 2025 - 05:00
Lavish funding of civil service jobs and grants was expected to secure a large ANC electoral base. Instead, the party’s support is suffering as funding sources dry up due to its antigrowth policies. ANC challenges are further increased by coalition dynamics and abrupt geopolitical shifts.
Unlike corruption, most patronage is approved through formal budgeting. In a coalition-style government this could favour the ruthless, yet the ANC can ill afford to further hobble the economy. A recent poll by the Institute of Race Relations indicates ANC support has declined to, and the DA’s has risen to, about 30%. ..
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