‘Here's looking at you, kid’

Published Jul 13, 2011

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M ac Maharaj carries a huge responsibility. On his shoulders lies his legacy and well as the credibility of a President, a community and a country.

Maharaj has impeccable struggle credentials. Had he bowed out of politics in 1994 he would have been regarded as a great tactician and one of the architects of our democracy. He was the man who fought apartheid alongside Nelson Mandela and was jailed with him on Robben Island.

If he had gone quietly in 1999, Maharaj would have been recognised as the man former president Nelson Mandela appointed as Transport Minister following the country's first democratic election.

But the events of 2003 dented his credibility. That was the year he accused the former National Director of Public Prosecutions, Bulelani Ngcuka, of “most probably” being an apartheid spy.

This followed a decision by Ngcuka not to prosecute Zuma on corruption charges even though by Ngcuka's own admission there was “a prima facie case of corruption”. Many believe the move was designed to prevent Zuma being appointed as the country's president after Thabo Mbeki.

Retired Judge Joos Hefer chaired a Commission of Inquiry into the allegations. He found that Ngcuka was “probably never” an apartheid agent. He went on to say the allegations were “ill conceived and entirely unsubstantiated”.

Maharaj's latest appointment as Zuma's presidential spokesman gives him an opportunity to be remembered for something better.

Maharaj will be Zuma's third spokesman in as many years. The other two – Vincent Magwenya and Zizi Kodwa – did not last long. And they won little praise.

Analysts believe Zuma has turned to Maharaj to help him boost his image in a bid for a second presidential term. Like most songs, Mshini Wam has past its sell-by date and the President needs something new and perhaps more intelligent. Right now, Maharaj seems to be it.

There is also the possibility that Zuma has appointed Maharaj as part of the ANC's strategy to win back Indian voters ahead of the 2014 national elections.

Earlier this year the ANC saw its support in local government elections drop from 65.9% to 61.95%. The party attributes this loss to white, Indian, and coloured voters turning their back on the ANC.

Maharaj's appointment is a strong statement that Indian South Africans have an important role to play in South Africa and are not being marginalised. It is a message that must filter down.

Furthermore, many South Africans believe all Indian South Africans are rich. And many think that all Indian South Africans got their wealth through corrupt means. Maharaj has an opportunity to right that perception.

Hopefully in the process he will help establish a society that comes to see Indian South Africans as simply South Africans.

It is after all what he first started fighting for.

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