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AFTER all the media hype, many South Africans will be distressed the ANC did not eject its deeply flawed leader over the weekend.
Indeed, the picture of a dancing President Jacob Zuma created the immediate impression that the ANC’s National Executive Committee had chosen to ignore waves of evidence about his and the Gupta family’s abuses.
Zuma survived after the weekend, but not because the denials from himself and the Guptas have been accepted. Rather, it shows the ANC learns from its mistakes. In this instance, in two ways.
First, for South Africa to achieve its potential, the cancer of crony capitalism and patronage must be decisively dealt with. Cutting out a single cancer cell is useless if the entire system is riddled with the disease.
Secondly, the manner of former President Thabo Mbeki’s recall – and the disaffected’s creation of Cope – still haunts many in a movement that prizes unity. A repeat would unnecessarily weaken the party. If the evidence already exposed is accurate, Zuma and the Guptas have received a stay of execution. Not exoneration.
The truth never changes. For those on its wrong side, the truth tends to hurt more when fully exposed. It is to the ANC’s credit that instead of the knee-jerk many South Africans wanted, there will now be a thorough investigation before action is taken.
Evidence already disclosed by Mcebisi Jonas, Vytjie Mentor and most recently Themba Maseko, is damning. But a lot worse is likely to emerge after the party’s official call that others with similar stories come forward.
Loyal ANC cadres, from former executives at state owned enterprises through to ousted cabinet ministers like Nhlanhla Nene are now duty bound to answer that instruction.
Judging by the bush telegraph, the ANC’s committee specially created to head this evidence is going to be very busy indeed. Last week we projected that ANC NEC members would do the right thing over the weekend.
They have. And, once again, the ANC Top Six are showing superior strategic skills to the chess devotee from Nkandla.
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