SA’s doomsayers, scaremongers
- Posted on Wednesday 24 September 2008 - 12:13Setumo Stone, AfricaNews reporter in Johannesburg, South Africa Photo: Elles van GelderThe resignation of Thabo Mbeki as president of South Africa has resuscitated the doomsayers, scaremongers and panic-maniacs, most of who are commonly known to have harbored doubts about the country as far back as 1994. The exodus in the early years of democratic dispensation under the threat of "die swart gevaar" (the black threat) can attest to that.
But unlike 1994, the new scare crowd is now backed by the newly found black middle class, whose social and political consciousness has since become limited to the size of their bank coffers. With their actions, in-actions and opinions, these so-called “black diamonds” contribute to the deviation of the country from the core focus of collective upliftment, to an agenda driven by class interests.
Is this a case of the oppressed becoming so fond of the oppressor such that when they gain freedom they start to think, act and see the world like their former master? One thing I know for sure is that South Africa cannot afford to become embroiled in class politics. That would be a spat in the face of those heroes and heroines who struggled and fought for collective liberation.
It must be taken into consideration that the ANC has done a massive job of rescuing South Africa in the jaws of an eminent civil war, and further continuing to engender confidence for economic growth and foreign investment. In fact, it is precisely because of the latter that the ANC could not implement “radical” policies to deal with the economic imbalance in the country.
The long and short of it is that the “Big Brothers” of the west and their remote controlled IMF and World Bank made it almost impossible for South Africa to “significantly” eradicate social inequalities, because of the conditions and demands attached to foreign investment. These include determination on the extent to which government can regulate and micromanage the markets.
Blame game
It is therefore unfortunate, that people would turn on the ANC and blame it for a slow pace of “general” growth and development. It is even more unfortunate when people start calling for a sunset clause on affirmative action and other black empowerment policies, whereas it is evident that we are yet to see a significant dent on our inherited social ills.
Moving forward, I do appreciate that individuals have a right to choose not to vote, as much as it would be very irresponsible. I also appreciate that individuals have a right to vote for any opposition party of their choice. That being said, I strongly think it would be very unfortunate, for anyone to abandon the vision of the ANC primarily because of media hype and deliberate misinformation.
In the same tone, I have faith in the political consciousness of ordinary grass root South Africans. As much as the majority lacks formal education, apartheid taught and engendered into them a very sophisticated understanding of politics, which South African opposition parties are seemingly out of kilter with.
When the media and its scare crowd were busy predicting a cloud of uncertainty and instability if Mbeki was to be removed, the ordinary people where I was were having a soccer tournament between taxi drivers and the youth. I saw no panic or fear or anxiety in the way they went about with their lives.
Scaremongering
This scaremongering points to one of the biggest challenges in South Africa, where the media competes with the ruling party for power. In my opinion, if the South African media wants to influence and dictate the direction the country should take, they must go to the polls and get an electoral mandate.
It must also be remembered that these media houses refused to appear before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to answer for their role in the advancement and preservation apartheid.
In conclusion, the axing of Mbeki brings about the culmination of political instability, and those cabinet ministers who are loyal to him and not the constituencies they serve can also resign if they so wish.
UPDATE: The following Cabinet members have since resigned and are not willing to serve under the new president:
1. Deputy President
2. Minister of Defence
3. Minister in the Presidency, Dr. Essop Pahad
4. Minister of Intelligence
5. Minister of Public Enterprises
6. Minister of Provincial and Local Government
The following cabinet members resigned but are willing to serve under the new president:
7. Minister of Finance
8. Minister of Correctional Services
9. Minister of Public Works
10. Minister of Public Service and Administration
11. Minister of Science and Technology
12. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
13. Deputy Minister of Finance and
14. Deputy Minister of Correctional Services.
Reactions
- Posted on Friday 03 October 2008 19:23Jacob Zuma's Personality Trait
With the resignation of Thabo Mbeki, South Africans have the hope of getting a new leader, a new president and head of state. The most prospective choice is Jacob Zuma. A brief numerological outlook at his personality reveals that he has an arrow of skepticism and a tendency to fall into changing moods and being agnostic (about religion). There is in his life a superficial understanding of human nature creating ocassional uncertainities, giving to skepticism, with worry taking over. If allowed to expand, worries cause headaches and other nerve troubles sometimes negatively affecting the ears and eyes (perhaps the reason he wears eyeglasses).
Anxiety and worry can cause unexpected reactions leading to accidents in which the head constantly features. Zuma might have overcome these issues in life if he developed a sound philosophical understanding that there is more to life than can be recognized with the five senses of perception alone. He might have overcome skepticism if he developed a higher sense of purpose rendering a higher nobler meaning to life. Unexpected reactions may lead to unpredictability and therefore undependability. People working with him may then feel insecure because they know not what his next reaction will be.
With Zuma, South African will need to shed their political, religious, cultural and tribal differences if they will forge ahead in peace and avoid turbulence and in-fighting in ANC; for the betterment of their nation. Zuma is a ruling five personality which dislikes taking orders from another person, seeking personal freedom and sometimes that of others. One can assume that this particular reason is responsible why he could not work amicably well with Thabo Mbeki. Zuma inherently always seeks to be his own boss. This many spell unwise domination of others or dictatorship. It is my hope that Zuma has learned adequately that in the modern world, a domineering spirit that does not seek compromise with others does not work any more and it leads to invalid and or undue conflicts. He must now understand that leadership from the very top down is different than what he has ever experienced before.
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