The immediate removal of President Jacob Zuma and instant relief and gratification that it may bring could very well become short-lived, writes Pule Malefane.
Current mobilisation gaining momentum - both from within and outside the ANC - for the immediate removal of President Jacob Zuma (over Nkandla and even the Guptas) is but a short-term solution to a long-term problem.
A cancerous problem, despite its growing symptoms, was left to spread wide and deep. It has now progressed towards reaching terminal stages when the very fabric of our society stands on the verge of destruction.
Corruption, poor service delivery, never-ending demonstrations, widespread unemployment, hunger and poverty have become the order of the day as we resemble a failed state, reminiscent of a banana republic.
Even worse, the immediate removal of Zuma and instant relief and gratification that it may bring could very well become short-lived as it may spark violent reaction by others who are in “blind” support of the president. It may quickly descend into the “black-on-black violence” of the past.
The question and challenge facing us as South Africans, especially the ANC voting majority, is whether the removal of President Zuma is an “enough” solution.
Should he rather not serve the remainder of his term while we begin to admit collective responsibility for allowing the state of affairs to decay to such levels?
There is a need for atonement for this common blunder. We need to embark on a national joint action in search of a turnaround solution that will bring back our innocence and restore our soul as a nation.
The process can begin with using the forthcoming local government elections to begin a dialogue regarding candidates who will represent and serve the newfound national resolve and a truly democratic project.
The time is ripe for a “return to Kliptown” and to embark on a new charter of all the people of South Africa. This must begin before the August 2016 local government elections. Driving this crisis to a national summit initiative, leaders such as Kgalema Motlanthe, Trevor Manuel and those from from labour, business, churches, civil society, women and youth, as well as traditional leaders, can formulate a national representative steering committee to chart a new path.
I have previously suggested a turnaround solution that would not only see Zuma pay back what is owed, but government and South Africa realise a return on investment which is the president's Nkandla homestead. It can serve as our own “Camp David” venue for the hosting of international conflict resolution and other negotiations.
* Malefane is a lobbyist, investment and development consultant. He is a former ANC underground activist. [email protected]
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
Sunday Independent