Dale > a political process that marginalizes those who would undermine the standards of the new South African constitution, is a political process that can endure a long time as a successful democracy.
Is that not a contradiction? Surely democracy requires the participation of all and not just those who agree with Mbeki's version of it? And there's no doubt that Zuma has tremendous grass-roots appeal. One can hardly blame the "unwashed" for wanting the government to provide a stream of never-ending hand-outs when that's what the ANC, in fact, promised them.
Zuma and his supporters feel he was pre-judged, and wrongfully so, by the Shaik verdict. To an extent, I can agree with them because, although "it takes two to tango", Zuma could argue that Shaik was his financial advisor and therefore he (Zuma) was innocent of his alleged participation in the fraud. As you well know, the law is not objective, although it purports to be. In the end, the subjective bias of the judge or the jury decides. No better example of that than the present Alito hearings where Republicans and Democrats are deciding on his bias towards abortion etc. And that's at the highest level.
> I am hoping that one of the ex-ANC BEE billionaires is tipped to succeed Mbeki
I think that's unlikely. Despite his appearance as a capitalist, Mbeki is a Stalinist, like Mugabe, and will tolerate no dissent. He wants dictator-like power and a following of sycophants. The BEE oligarchs were, in fact, marginalized by him because he saw them as political threats and so they went into business. I believe his fancy for a successor, that's after putting himself in for another term of course, is Mrs Zuma who, in my opinion, will be a disaster.
> someone who understands that continuing the private sector boom in SA is the best avenue for long-term prosperity.
As the expression goes, "it's all very well for the winners" but, as you know, there is a multitude of poor in SA who will never, ever, participate in any capitalist economy. For them, charity, hand-outs, call it what you will, are their only means to survival. These people have been disillusioned by the ANC, and I don't blame them, because the graft, corruption and incompetence of the senior ANC officials have without any doubt deprived them of their essential needs. ANC political leaders, too, have become disaffected, particularly over the Zuma saga, and there could very easily be a new party created in opposition to the ANC which would take away the ANC's grass root support. In fact, I would be pleased if this happened because I, too, have become very unhappy with Mbeki's policy of creating a Louis XVI-type African aristocracy who jet around the world and spend tax-payers' money like there's no tomorrow. Meanwhile, there is hardly a government department which functions as it should and, in fact, most are a shambles. And whenever they need an excuse for what's happening, it's always because of "apartheid". |
