I am extremely proud of being African and South African. What we have managed to do over the last 15 odd years have been unbelievable. From the most despicable Apartheid regime to a stable democracy and sound economic growth. From the bottom of the world pecking order, to the leading global voice on justice. A leading light in a world at war. We have shown the world how everyone can live in peace and harmony – and celebrate differences instead of letting it divide us. The region I come from has shown the world how Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Jew can all live together, celebrate our differences and enrich our lives in this melting pot we call home – instead of trying to wipe each other out.
Yes, like all other countries we have challenges. Crime, poverty and HIV/Aids being the biggest. At the heart is poverty – or at least the lack of shared wealth. Too much is still in the hands of a small group of umlungu’s. We have the systems in place to start addressing this – affirmative action will help, but we have lots more to do to address wealth distribution. But as a start affirmative action policies have been integrated into our procurement system in innovative ways, as well as in the workplace. At the same time the government has brought electricity, running water and housing to millions of people. And so much more that still needs to be done. We are very much a work in progress. Slow progress, but progress nonetheless. Change doesn’t happen overnight.
We have won the Rugby World Cup – twice! Unfortunately, we continue to suck big time in soccer, but will show the world how to party in 2010.
We have shown how democracy can be a powerful way to bring real benefits to all people in South Africa. Since 1994 we have experienced mostly all the good and great things of having a democracy.
And then there was Zuma.
Zuma has just been elected as the leader of the ANC – the political party I have always supported and voted for in South Africa. He is now in a perfect position to become the next President of South Africa. The ‘Comrades’ at the ANC Congress last month celebrated his win as proof that democracy works and that anyone can be elected as a leader in a free and fair election.
But lets be clear about something. Zuma is an idiot. I have met him a few times and he is not the sharpest tool in the shed. He has the charisma of a damp dishcloth. And the morals of a rat. He didn’t deny sleeping with the young girl that was not only HIV positive, but also a family friend. Whether there was consent or not is irrelevant. You would expect more from someone who is supposed to be a leader we look up to – who should be a shining light for us to follow. And the fact that he took a shower afterwards to ‘ensure’ he doesn’t ‘catch’ HIV speaks to his intellect. And I am not even going to go into the corruption charges. How the hell can the ANC Women’s League justify supporting this guy during the election? And when I was a unionist in South Africa we all saw Zuma speak at the COSATU Congress – how could you even think for a minute he would be a leader for the workers or the people?
I know that people don’t like Mbeki, but you don’t drink cyanide just because you don’t like Coke. Pick something else that won’t kill you. Okay, cyanide will kill you quicker than Zuma, but the outcome will be the same – Zuma will drag everything that Madiba and all our great leaders have worked and fought for through the mud. We will be the laughing stock of the world. Mbeki is a statesman respected across the world for not bending to popular demand, but sticking to what is just and right. Well, most of the time – he is fallible (read his HIV/Aids policies). Hey, I don’t even like him that much. But Mbeki is a giant compared to Zuma.
What really gets to me is the fact that these same ‘Comrades’ will be the ones bitching and moaning about Bush and other world leaders , but especially Bush. As they used to say at union meeting – ‘Comrade, you are out of order’. You lost your right to criticize the democratically elected leaders from other countries when you elected Zuma as your leader. Bush might be an idiot with policies we don’t like or agree with, but he was democratically elected (twice) by his people. Okay, he IS an idiot - just like Zuma. So, stop your bitching about Bush or Brown – or even Mugabe – you got Zuma. YOU just moved us from standing on the moral highground to crawling in the mud. YOU voted him in. YOU are responsible. YOU will be the laughing stock of the world. YOU just lost your right to bitch.
February 15, 2008 at 8:09 am
Yup. They got Bush, we got Zuma. ‘Nuff said.
February 16, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Does this mean you have seen the light and will vote for another party?
March 3, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Some people state that Democracy is overated and I agree. A country like SA that has millions of uneducated voters, people that don’t their newspapers every day, don’t have a television, a job, that haven’t been exposed to the responsibilities of holding down a job, they will vote Zuma into office. ‘He represents the poor’, yet the poor, it seems to think that because he represents them, that he will deliver… and the real solutions lie in competent government, Zuma is not competent, he has made his own financial mess, that of the country, by trying to become president of the ANC, he was hoping to avoid justice. I think there should have been a period of 10 to 15 years of a transitional government in SA after apartheid, service delivery would have been the priority.
March 10, 2008 at 1:19 am
How do we judge a leader? Is it based on his Policy Positions, His values, or his commitment to the society and his accessibility. Perhaps it is a good thing for us, as S. Africans to have a President like JZ. This will allow us to have a say in what should happen, and how it should happen. Zuma has proven beyond any reasonable dout, that he is a leader for the people. His views are people’s views.
March 10, 2008 at 8:35 am
It’s me. I have to apoligize for some of the things I said in this blog. Sipho reminded me of something. You can disagree with someone, but on our culture you should always remember to show respect for an elder. To Zuma – I apologize for calling you an idiot. And insulting you. I don’t like you and don’t like what you stand for and don’t like what you say and do. And I don’t believe that you are the right option for the ANC or South Africa. But there is a line between expressing those feelings and showing a lack of respect. For that, I apologize unconditionally.
March 20, 2008 at 9:29 pm
One thing to say about Brown and Bush, that Zuma hasn’t had a chance to do.
Does anyone remember the old fable about Nero playing the violin while Rome burned?
Well, Bush was playing in concert with Brown while 1,071 people died in the Katrina debacle.
“Good Job Brownie!” is now the newest euphemism for catastrophic ignorance.
You may have Zuma, but, we have a proven idiot in Bush. And further, since I’m not raised in the same manner, I have NO urge to apologize!
May 23, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I am not going to defend Zuma but let us be clear, he is no George W. Bush.
Zuma does not have the blood of over a million Iraqi and Afghan people on his hands.
As a South African who is very aware of the shortcomings of our ‘post’ era, I am not even amused by the audacity to liken Bush and Zuma in any context.
Now that is “nuff said” …
Onward!