The recent political events must raise questions about whether President Jacob Zuma and the ANC are schizophrenics or chameleons, writes Brij Maharaj.
The political events of the last week must raise questions about whether President Jacob Zuma and the ANC are schizophrenics or chameleons.
It would appear that after the apology by our “Shepherd” President Jacob Zuma to the nation (for apparently taking bad legal advice), the ANC expects South Africans to bow at his feet for doing the right thing. After all, ‘it takes a real man to apologise’!
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng was scathing about “the failure by the National Assembly to hold the president accountable by ensuring that he complies with the remedial action taken against him, (which) is inconsistent with its obligations to scrutinise and oversee executive action and to maintain oversight of the exercise of executive powers by the president”.
The response of Parliamentary Speaker Baleka Mbete (possible presidential candidate) is beyond belief: “I am not considering doing anything on the functioning of Parliament out of the ordinary”.
The unanimous Constitutional Court judgment written by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng (hence the ANC’s traditional default, defence and attack mechanism, racism, was not possible, and there was also no reference to ‘judicial overreach’), was welcomed by the president, ANC and parliamentary presiding officers. But the circumstances that led to the Nkandla matter being referred to the Constitutional Court were all but forgotten, especially the vilification and intimidation of Thuli Madonsela by senior ANC politicians.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Madonsela stated that the Nkandla experience had ‘toughened me but not hardened me. Being spiritually grounded allows me to forgive... I have empathy for them and hope they will have a Damascus experience because we are in the same boat, really’. So have Madonsela’s detractors experienced a dramatic and startling conversion, in word, thought and deed?
On November 14, 2012, Zuma told Parliament: “I took the decision to expand my home and I built my home with more rondavels, more than once. And I fenced my home. And I engaged the bank and I’m still paying a bond on my first phase of my home”.
In a letter to Madonsela on September 11, 2014, President Zuma contended that: ‘Reports emanating from a public protector process are not judgments to be followed under pain of a contempt order, but rather, useful tools in assisting democracy in a co-operative manner.”
In July 2015, Mathole Motshekga, former Chief Whip, member of the ANC’s Department of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, and justice portfolio committee chair, said: “We should not, and cannot, apologise when we say the report of the public protector... has misled the nation”.
Deputy Defence Minister Kebby Maphatsoe, chairman of the Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association, accused Madonsela of being a CIA agent spy. In April 2013 ANC Treasurer General Zweli Mkhize contended that allegations of corruption raised by the DA “is not itself proof that President Zuma is corrupt”.
At a media briefing on March 19, 2014, Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency, insisted: “The retaining wall, cattle kraal and culvert, fire pool.. are all essential security features”.
In an interview with the Financial Times June 7, 2015, Mac Maharaj contended that the Nkandla controversy was “the biggest weakness... He (Zuma) ought to take some clearly-defined level of responsibility, even if it is for an act of omission... I once said to him, President, prepare yourself for repayment”. This is before the report came out. And I said, If you have a problem, I’m sure that in your present position it won’t be difficult to raise”. He said, No, I did not ask for those security enhancements, I’m not paying... (however) this thing pans out... what is important is to create a culture of taking responsibility for our actions.”
Reviled by government and the ruling party, Thuli Madonsela has been feted around the world. In April 2014 she was named one ofÂTime magazine’s 100 most influential people. The following citation was written by Lamido Sanusi, (Central Bank of Nigeria Governor from 2009 to 2014): “Thuli Madonsela is an inspirational example of what African public officers need to be... As South Africa’s public protector, with her ability to speak truth to power and to address corruption in high places, Madonsela has been outstanding... It requires extraordinary courage and patriotism to do what Thuli Madonsela has done.”
Madonsela’s key finding was that “the manner in which the Nkandla Project was administered and implemented gave me the impression of a toxic concoction of a lack of leadership, a lack of control and focused self-interest”.
This phrase could be extended to succinctly summarise the defining features of Jacob Zuma’s reign as president of the ANC since 2007, and President of South Africa since 2009, as the country hurtled from one crisis to another.
The primary focus of politicians, government, and bureaucrats has been geared towards blindly following, protecting and defending Zuma the Messiah at all costs - from the 700 charges emanating from the Schabir Shaik case to amorous indiscretions, allegations that his family and friends benefit from government tenders and contracts, the security breach at the Waterkloof Air Force Base, manipulating state institutions to serve personal interests and the Gupta connection and “state capture”.
In her low moments Madonsela “wondered what (former) president Nelson Mandela would have made of this bizarre turn of events?”
Perhaps the last word from Mandela’s fellow Rivonia Trialist, Ahmed Kathrada: “There comes a time in the life of every” nation when it must choose to submit or fight. Today I appeal to our president to submit to the will of the people and resign”.
*Brij Maharaj is a geography professor at UKZN. He writes in his personal capacity
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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