South Africa

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Just a few thoughts on our man of the moment (or should it be man of the year) regarding his recent acquittal and so-called “comeback”. Since getting back I’ve been checking out what was said in the local blogosphere and in media after trial. A posts that I would particularly like to highlight is from Commentary, I fully agree with the sentiments expressed therein, particularly the following by Laurence :

But I’m not going to second-guess the judge. I’m willing to accept that justice was done, the system worked, and Zuma isn’t a rapist. But he’s still a scumbag.

 

Lest we forget, Zuma put himself in this position. He was a cad. The self-styled head of South Africa’s “moral regeneration movement” took sexual advantage of a psychologically disturbed young woman who, by all accounts, thought of Zuma as a father-figure. During the trial, he enunciated the evil idea that women are “asking for it” in the way they dress; in this case, by wearing a knee-length skirt. Women’s groups are correct to call this a “setback”: in a country which already has one of the highest incidences of rape in the world, the damage Zuma did will take years to undo.

That sound you may have heard while reading the above quote was the hammer hitting the nail on the head! This perfectly summarizes exactly how I feel about the Z, he may try and put on his happy-go-lucky-uncle-who-just-loves-the-working-man face, but if you look beyond that, you begin to see the true Z – a selfish, egotistical clown who loves living the high life while all the time playing the populist card when it suits him.

But the rape trial is history.

It’s time for us to look ahead and consider what lies in store for the “indomitable” Z (and the rest of us), as he lurches forward towards his corruption trial. While I am sure he will be Yengenied, let’s consider the insane notion that he by some miracle actually gets off (even thinking of that gives me a bit of a heady feeling like I’m not getting enough air). There seems to be a fair bit of debate going on over whether the Z-man could actually go all the way to Tuinhuis…

There’s no way and the reason starts with an M and ends with a “you-don’t-mess-with-The-Legacy. Ever.”

That’s right, if the big man hasn’t put his stamp of approval on something, it will not happen. Many pundits have been commenting on the fact that the “battle-lines” have been drawn between Mbeki supporters and those that support Zuma. What kind of battle do these pundits have in mind – an insurgency by a small plucky band of Zuma loyalist, or perhaps a glorious charge light-brigade style to victory after the conclusion of the corruption trial? There’s no way - Zuma was history once Mbeki fired him from the Cabinet.

Much has been written of Zuma’s support base and the belief that this electrified band of clowns in arms will be at the vanguard of any Zuma victory. To this I have to say – what support? A bunch of disorganized and obsessed weirdo’s ranting outside the High Court, or maybe the ANCYL or Cosatu, or other so-called far leftists in the ANC?

The people outside the court were good and burning things and labeling people “bitches”, but I hardly feel they’ll carry much weight in the presidential succession debate. Then there is the ANCYL. Between organizing their 310th party of the year, laundering Brett Kebble’s cash and organizing their “babe magnet” cars I cannot think of one, not one initiative the ANCYL has ever managed to spearhead and carry through to its conclusion. Blowhards of the first order who never deliver.

As for Cosatu, their track record in influencing national debate has been anything but strong of late – remember the “stayaway to protest unemployment” last year - total flop. Plus remember Vavi spinning himself into oblivion in an attempt to explain how they were for JZ president, but not really. Brittle support at its best.

The final group is probably the strongest – the determined leftist within the tripartite alliance. Some might point to there show of strength last year at the acrimonious national conference, but to me this was not really about Zuma and all about Mbeki’s leadership style. The left, tired with being sidelined, caught Mbeki unawares and forced him to make concessions in an attempt to placate the base. This will not happen again.

Mbeki is probably SA’s canniest political animal. He has had a lot of practice from his time in exile to his in-house coup to become SA’s president after Madiba. If Zuma and motley crew of wannabe’s think they’re going to upset The Legacy, they’ve got another thing coming.

“Michael: Fredo, you're my older brother... and I love you...but don't ever take sides, with anyone, against the family again. Ever.” - Godfather (aka. T. Mbeki)

Just completed an incredible month long trip to Asia - what a place! The sheer scale and scope of what is happening on that side of the globe is truly awe-inspiring. People, places, machinery, technology, focus, ambition, education, all very fitting adjectives for describing what I saw and literally felt while I made my way from meeting to meeting. Although I have made numerous trips there before, this time made a much greater impression on me for some reason. I guess when you are in SA there is a tendency to get a bit sucked in by what is happening around you and lose a bit of perspective of the bigger picture.

I see the usual suspects are still very much in play – the ANCYL calling people Lucifer (are we in the 16th Century?), Jay-Z was found not guilty and sung his Machine Gun song (the man is obsessed with phallic symbols) and of course the Prez. meditated over it all with his “Native Club” (sign me up!).

“Those who can, do. Those who can’t join the Native Club”

PS : the "Proudly South African" post was a work in progress from awhile back that slipped through the publishing software, will rework it and get it back up soon.