IN THE past, President Jacob Zuma and the ANC got away with many things because the South African populace seemed to condone and tolerate them.
But this is no longer true. Today there are two South Africas: one South Africa has soaked up - and is prepared to do so as long as it takes - Zuma’s shocking behaviour, often driven by self-interest. The other is fighting back - and it is about time.
Zuma’s behaviour has been shocking to say the least, particularly as it relates to Nkandla, his private homestead whose construction he is believed to have benefited from unduly.
A couple of months back, members of the militant Economic Freedom Front (EFF) demanded that he pay back the taxpayers' money he allegedly used to build Nkandla. His answer was most unsatisfactory as he claimed to have already responded to the demand.
In addition, Zuma has raised eyebrows by letting corrupt members of his cabinet escape punishment without insisting that criminal charges be laid against them. A case in point is that of former national minister of communications, Dina Pule.
Pule had failed to disclose the business interests of her boyfriend Phosane Mngqibisa, who benefited financially from the 2012 sponsorship of information and communications technology event the ICT Indaba, which her department hosted in Cape Town.
I am sure she is still living it up with taxpayers’ money wherever she is, even though she was fired from her cabinet post. This was a light punishment by Zuma.
Why have South Africans put up with all this? I cannot give a detailed answer to this question because I honestly do not know.
But the events of the past two weeks in parliament in Cape Town and in the Gauteng legislature show that the tide is turning against Zuma and the ANC-led government, as South Africans are not prepared to take this nonsense any more.
This week chaos erupted in the Gauteng legislature, with scenes almost like those in parliament last week. ANC and EFF members hurled insults, allegations and vulgarities at each other during an official sitting of the legislature.
Riot police in parliament
This followed the unprecedented late-night invasion of parliament by riot police in parliament in what has been described as the first incident of its kind since the assassination of apartheid prime minister Hendrik Verwoerd in 1966.
In this incident, members of opposition parties united in a call that chief whip Baleka Mbete be removed from her position because of her bias towards ANC members.
It never rains but it pours for the ANC and its government.
Seeing a once-popular party in power fast dissolving before one’s eyes is hardly shocking, considering its frivolous behaviour in recent years.
The gradual collapse of the great ANC-led government, which has been bubbling under the surface since former president Thabo Mbeki was deposed, is finally boiling over.
Seeing the ANC tumbling off a precipice and plunging into the deep blue sea is all the more perplexing because they are the government. What a time to implode, as this is happening when they should be taking their leadership of the country to another level.
In fact, they should be making sure that the country keeps its position as a leading light on the continent.
But the country has underperformed in terms of economic growth compared to its African peers, whose economies are currently shooting the lights out.
The once-beloved party and government, which was serious about security, economic growth and clean governance during former and now late president Nelson Mandela's tenure, is turning into an impure organisation whose ranks are being swelled by people who have never been to the trenches and are just seeking personal financial gain.
I think wise ANC MPs should be quitting before they are forced to lose their seats in parliament.
*Mzwandile Jacks is an independent journalist. Opinions expressed are his own.
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