ANC
File photo: SA cannot afford six more years of Jacob Zuma as president, writes Max du Preez.
I was asked by a senior business figure recently what I considered to be the worst likely scenario for South Africa in the short or medium term.
I cannot see a serious threat to our stability anywhere on the horizon. Our institutions are strong; civil society is active and energetic; our economy and private sector are sound; our people clearly have freedom and democracy entrenched in their hearts.
My answer to the businessman? “Six more years of Jacob Zuma as our president.”
A few days later, the ANC leadership went on a publicity visit to Nelson Mandela’s house and I was reassured that I had given the right answer. I will never be able to see Zuma’s name or face without recalling the obscene image of him grinning like a hyena, sitting next to a vacant-looking Mandela.
I thought the stunt was the pinnacle of callousness, insensitivity and opportunism.
Shortly after that came Zuptagate, the landing of a plane hired by Zuma’s Gupta buddies at an air force base and the spectacle of police and traffic officers giving them the blue-light convoy treatment to Sun City.
Most if not all South Africans felt cheapened and insulted by this abuse and the government’s pathetic attempts to protect Zuma and shift the blame on to a few state employees.
I have little doubt that the photo opportunity with Mandela was a direct response to reclaim Mandela as exclusive ANC property after the DA had used a poster of him embracing Helen Suzman.
Our political parties are in election mode. The DA’s aim is to shake off the image it still has among many black South Africans as a party born in sin during the apartheid era and not really committed to fighting for the interests of all South Africans.
The ANC knows it cannot realistically use its track record as governing party as a platform to win votes. It can only fall back on its history as the liberation movement and has clearly decided to fight its election on race and history.
It has only one weapon against its main opposition, the DA: tell the voters it will bring back apartheid. And when the DA pre-empted this with its campaign that included the Mandela poster, the ANC had to quickly neutralise that.
Voters are accustomed to political parties’ rhetoric and publicity stunts during election campaigns, but using the country’s treasured icon and father figure in the way they have overstepped the mark.
It appears unlikely, especially after some of Mandela’s old friends had in recent months explained his fragility and state of mind, that the dignified old statesman had any idea who the people in the Zuma party were that came to visit him.
Most South Africans understand that the Gupta debacle only happened because this powerful family are close friends and supporters of Zuma and employ or do business with his clan.
Many staunch ANC supporters forgave Zuma for his indiscretions like the events leading to his rape trial and impregnating a close friend’s daughter.
They were prepared to sweep the serious charges of corruption and fraud against him under the carpet, as well as the suspicious way in which those charges were withdrawn.
Some were even prepared to overlook the scandal of public money spent on Zuma’s private estate at Nkandla in the interest of party unity.
But it is becoming clear to most that the ANC’s machinery is now almost solely focused on protecting and defending its president.
People are beginning to realise that the spectacular lack of leadership in the ANC and the government; the abuse of power; the culture of nepotism and corruption; the incessant power struggles can be traced back to the way Zuma has led since 2009.
The suspicion that Zuma sees himself more as a powerful chief, a Big Man in Africa rather than as the president of a modern democracy was strengthened by the police brutality at Marikana and elsewhere and by the disastrous military adventure into the Central African Republic.
What is still puzzling is the fear he obviously instills in his cabinet and the ANC’s top leadership which prevents otherwise strong and decent leaders from confronting him. Shades of the Groot Krokodil?
My guess is that a significant number of people who had seen the ANC as their only political home will next year find it impossible to vote ANC again. Most of these will probably not vote at all; some will defect to the DA, Mamphela Ramphele’s Agang or one of the other parties.
The ANC is probably stuck with Zuma until after next year’s election. I sincerely hope it finds a way to get him to retire to Nkandla soon after, with our without indemnity.
We cannot afford six more years of this man.
The Mercury
