As I drive through Sandton I see cranes and evidence of construction in all directions. The Gautrain is on the way and driving from Johannesburg to Pretoria reveals the evidence. Stadiums are being built for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
The world is currently suffering the effects of high oil prices, spiralling food costs and the aftermath of the Sub-Prime crisis. South Africa is not immune. Interest rates have increased by 500 basis points over two years to counter inflation. Belts are being tightened.
Yet all around I see signs of a vibrant economy. Business has not shied away from investing. Houses are being built, office buildings rise to the sky, roads are being improved. Inflation is showing signs of peaking and the fall in the oil price should help fuel a continued slowdown in inflation.
These signs make me feel positive and hopeful. South Africa has a bright future, and once interest rates fall the economy should boom once again.
But there is another worrying side to the story. The ruling party - the ANC - has undergone something of a transformation over the last few months. Jacob Zuma - due to stand trial on charges of corruption - has been elected as the new president of the organisation. The left has put its weight behind him as well. The ANC "old guard" have largely been side-lined in favour of Zuma supporters. The unofficial split in the organisation has been very bitter.
The new leadership is full of people that have been convicted of fraud and corruption. The value system and principles of the organisation are a thing of the past. What has been replaced is a kind of fanatical support for Jacob Zuma. The Judiciary is attacked for having a "political agenda". The Scorpions - South Africa's equivalent of the FBI is to be abolished.
The Scorpions made it possible for Jacob Zuma to be prosecuted for corruption. He is fighting to stop the prosecution. The Scorpions uncovered the Travelgate scandal where MPs received cash for non-existant travel. Many of the new leadership of the ANC were convicted in this scandal. Without the Scorpions' "political agenda" their records would have been clean.
Julius Malema is the new president of the ANC Youth League. He has vowed to "kill for Zuma" though he was unspecific as to who was on the list. He will "eliminate" the "counter-revolutionary forces" that do not support Jacob Zuma. There have been threats of "No Zuma, No South Africa" from supporters outside the court.
Democracy is no longer important. The rule of law is not important. The courts are being undermined. It is a kind of emerging fascism. An emerging fascism strongly supported by the left. The SA Communist Party and the Trade Union movement naively believe that the new leadership will deliver what they want.
In the meantime the "old school" ANC members are keeping very quiet. Many have distanced themselves from the new rhetoric, but few have spoken out. The ANC is set to lose votes at the next election, but there is no viable opposition.
The answer for now is to wait and see. But some of our dreams have been dashed.
Showing posts with label South African policitcs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South African policitcs. Show all posts
Monday, 11 August 2008
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
South Africa: The ANC Leadership Elections
18th of December 2007. Tonight Jacob Zuma has been swept to leadership as president of the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa's ruling party. The election was a two-horse race. The Zuma camp took all leadership positions of the party convincingly.
Jacob Zuma has huge popularity. The first ANC leader to emerge from “the People”. Former leaders were drawn from the "elite". From the middle class, from royal families, from the families of traditional leaders (tribal chiefs) and from the intelligentsia. Zuma, by contrast, has little formal education. He educated himself while imprisoned at Robin Island.
All leadership positions of the party were taken convincingly by the Zuma camp. The Zuma “ticket” has taken all of the party’s top spots.
Thabo Mbeki represents the intellectual middle-class branch of the ANC. He is currently in his second and final term as South Africa's State President. His failings – perceived or actual - include crime, HIV AIDS, poverty, poor service delivery and the “quiet diplomacy” policy to Zimbabwe.
In the lead-up to these elections, Jacob Zuma spoke out against the way that these issues were being handled. The government’s failure to deal effectively with crime. The high levels of crime in the country were an infringement of our human rights, an infringement on our freedom. Similarly with the innefective HIV AIDS policy.
While there have been many successes, Mbeki’s government has failed to deliver on several fronts:
• Crime – particularly violent crime – remains a national curse. People live in fear behind high walls and electric fences
• Anti-retroviral drugs for AIDS sufferers. Mbeki’s infatuation with the AIDS dissidents (or denialists) some years ago was not well received.
• Poverty remains a huge issue. While there are a growing number of wealthy and middle-class black people, the majority remain in poverty.
• Poor service delivery is another issue causing great dissatisfaction
• The quiet diplomacy policy towards Zimbabwe has had no perceivable effect.
The vote for Zuma within the ANC was primarily a vote for change. The perceived failings of the Mbeki’s government provided enough fuel for ZUMA to gain support.
Jacob Zuma has faced and was acquitted of a rape charge. Shabir Shaik is in prison for his role in conducting a generally corrupt relationship with Jacob Zuma. Jacob Zuma will probably be facing charges of corruption within the next few months. There is a possibility that he will be found guilty.
Zuma supporters believe that his rape charge and the corruption allegations were politically inspired. What seems certain is that Jacob Zuma was not alone in benefiting from arms deal corruption if indeed he was involved. Jacob Zuma has strong leadership skills. In the early 1990’s he played a huge role in bringing the armed conflict in Kwa-Zulu to rest. He achieved unity in the province. He is seen as a man of the people.
The next national elections are due in 2009. Until then, Mbeki is likely to remain as State President. What happens next is anyone’s guess.
Jacob Zuma has huge popularity. The first ANC leader to emerge from “the People”. Former leaders were drawn from the "elite". From the middle class, from royal families, from the families of traditional leaders (tribal chiefs) and from the intelligentsia. Zuma, by contrast, has little formal education. He educated himself while imprisoned at Robin Island.
All leadership positions of the party were taken convincingly by the Zuma camp. The Zuma “ticket” has taken all of the party’s top spots.
Thabo Mbeki represents the intellectual middle-class branch of the ANC. He is currently in his second and final term as South Africa's State President. His failings – perceived or actual - include crime, HIV AIDS, poverty, poor service delivery and the “quiet diplomacy” policy to Zimbabwe.
In the lead-up to these elections, Jacob Zuma spoke out against the way that these issues were being handled. The government’s failure to deal effectively with crime. The high levels of crime in the country were an infringement of our human rights, an infringement on our freedom. Similarly with the innefective HIV AIDS policy.
While there have been many successes, Mbeki’s government has failed to deliver on several fronts:
• Crime – particularly violent crime – remains a national curse. People live in fear behind high walls and electric fences
• Anti-retroviral drugs for AIDS sufferers. Mbeki’s infatuation with the AIDS dissidents (or denialists) some years ago was not well received.
• Poverty remains a huge issue. While there are a growing number of wealthy and middle-class black people, the majority remain in poverty.
• Poor service delivery is another issue causing great dissatisfaction
• The quiet diplomacy policy towards Zimbabwe has had no perceivable effect.
The vote for Zuma within the ANC was primarily a vote for change. The perceived failings of the Mbeki’s government provided enough fuel for ZUMA to gain support.
Jacob Zuma has faced and was acquitted of a rape charge. Shabir Shaik is in prison for his role in conducting a generally corrupt relationship with Jacob Zuma. Jacob Zuma will probably be facing charges of corruption within the next few months. There is a possibility that he will be found guilty.
Zuma supporters believe that his rape charge and the corruption allegations were politically inspired. What seems certain is that Jacob Zuma was not alone in benefiting from arms deal corruption if indeed he was involved. Jacob Zuma has strong leadership skills. In the early 1990’s he played a huge role in bringing the armed conflict in Kwa-Zulu to rest. He achieved unity in the province. He is seen as a man of the people.
The next national elections are due in 2009. Until then, Mbeki is likely to remain as State President. What happens next is anyone’s guess.
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