South Africa In Which Direction?

I have been also observing with interest and "fear" the developments in our neibouring country, the Republic of South Africa.

The then president of the country and NEC (ruling party) fires the vice president for allegations of corruption or links to corruption. The president later puts himself as a contesting candidate for the NEC even after serving the "normal" two terms. This would have meant that, if he won, there was going to be a party president and another president for the state. That created two camps within the NEC, one camp for Thabo Mbeki and the other for Jacob Zuma. The now famous Polokwane conference came and Thabo Mbeki lost the party leadership to Jacob Zuma.

Later, Thabo Mbeki was "fired" from being State president by (Zuma as leader of) NEC. Some ministers ans senior members of the NEC resigned in solidarity or protest to Mbeki's dismissal. That led to the formation of another party called COPE being lead by former Defense minister.

The legal battled for Zuma about the alleged corruption are still continuing. Cosatu and the NEC youth wing who have been on the Zuma "camp" are still fighting for Zuma to be president. It is being alleged that Mbeki was more friendly to the business community at the expense of the working class or the poor. (This is understood as Mbeki is an economist by qualification). On the other hand, Zuma is being seen as being more inclined to the working class. (It can be also inferred because according to his NEC profile, owing to his deprived childhood, Jacob Zuma did not receive any formal schooling, http://www.anc.org.za/people/zumaj.html)

Now, Zuma is set to go for trial on the 25th of August 2009. By then, he would have been elected the president of South Africa if he wins, which is almost certain he will. The sympathisers of Jacob Zuma want the charges to be dropped. They argue that he is a victim of politicking. Zuma himself says he will not step aside from contesting the country's presidence because the courts have not proved him guilty. It is of interest to note also that Jacob Zuma was previously in court again for allegations of rape. He was cleared by the court as not being guilt and that he had sex with the lady on consent. That is same story where it is alleged that Zuma claimed to have taken a shower after sex to prevent HIV transmission!

So, this is the crisis we have in most of our African countries. The leadership crisis or deficiency is not only a Zimbabwean byt african problem. South Africa risks moving on the wrong direction. This year will be a defining moment for South African politics. Posterity will tell.