Jacob Zuma's Political Strategy is a Dangerous and Divisive One [City Press, 2005-10-22]

There is no denial that Jacob Zuma is popular in the ANC, but more popular than who? Also, a person can be popular in the ANC but not popular with the public.

There are many people who are sympathetic to JZ but do not support his strategy. Even the ANC does not support his strategy. His strategy is divisive and dangerous and undermines the Constitution and the rule of the law. It therefore creates a negative brand of Zuma.

It raises scepticism about the type of president we might have in the future and brings to mind images of leaders who used popularity to advance personal interests and later resorted to repressive measures to maintain power. Zuma might be following the trends of Charles Taylor of Liberia and Frederick Chiluba of Zambia.

Hooliganism is now part of Zuma's strategy, but Zuma has been silent on the behaviour of some of his supporters. He portrays himself as a desperate leader who knows that court proceedings might reveal worse things than the Schabir Shaik trial and the Hefer Commission.

Zuma has also portrayed himself as a leader with double standards. He wrote a letter forbidding Willem Heath from participating in the arms procurement investigations. Today the same Heath is part of his legal team. JZ and his followers, especially Zwelinzima Vavi, Fikile Mbalula and Blade Nzimande, accused Judge Hilary Squires of being an apartheid judge but the same accusation no longer goes to Heath.

On September 9, 2005, both Mbeki and Zuma issued a joint statement regarding establishment of the commission to investigate possible conspiracy against Zuma. Among other things, both leaders agreed to respect the rule of the law and independence of our judiciary system, that the leadership should lead by example even in difficult times and they must both stand against factionalism, ethnicism and racism.

For 10 years Zuma has been defending the ANC's economic policies. He has been a leader of government on HIV/Aids. When did he become a great friend of the working class? How can a friend of the working class live in posh suburbs and build a R1 million mansion in poverty-stricken Inkandla? Can a true friend of the working class survive by handouts from various business people?

The rudeness of his supporters has alienated sober-minded South Africans. The silence of Madiba who has been his supporter is also a worrying factor *1.

Thandi Mzimela,
Durban, Umlazi Section

Publication	City Press
Date	2005-10-22
Reporter	Thandi Mzimela
Web Link	www.news24.com