Jacob Zuma and the future of South Africa

Some political-philosophical observations about the emerging “pothole democracy” and the formation of an alternative society.

§         When President Jacob Zuma and the future have to be argued, the uncertainties outnumber the certainties – by far!

§         There is no dominant scenario that could be applied in explanation and planning. Various important trends can be identified. However, individually they do not present a mechanism to unlock the future.

§         In December 2007 Thabo Mbeki was redeployed by the ANC (to the foreign reader: he was removed from office). An interim period followed with Kgalema Motlanthe at the helm and in April 2009 Jacob Zuma became president.

§         The same tri-partite alliance between the ANC, the trade union alliance Cosatu and the South African Communist Party that ousted Mbeki, is now the driving force behind Zuma.

§         South African society in terms of the population, which put the ANC in power in 1994, has been subjected to fundamental changes and by 2009 the very fabric of society is now under enormous stress. It is the kind of stress that could impact on the future of the state and democracy within the next five years. This is an area beyond the reach of parliament and is already responsible for much of the uncertainty in the present situation.

§         In any observation of Jacob Zuma, one has to start with the legacy of Thabo Mbeki. Zuma does not have the opportunity of starting with a clean slate - Mbeki will be with him for years to come as political ghosts are not easily contained.

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