Ronnie Kasrils speaking at his book launch, at Ike's Bookstore and Collectables.
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has been at the epicenter of South African politics and his life has spilled almost daily onto the pages of South Africa’s newspapers and recently into books, with several already having been published this year. Joining the list of authors, seemingly intrigued by the President’s often embattled and controversial life, is former Intelligence Minister and ANC stalwart, Ronnie Kasrils, who launched his latest book titled, A Simple Man: Kasrils and the Zuma Enigma at Ike’s Books and Collectables in Morningside on Monday.
According to Kasrils, who was speaking at the launch, the upcoming conference of the ANC has the potential to make the divisive Polokwane conference of 2007 look like a picnic, if it goes ahead. Kasrils said next month’s conference in Gauteng will be a very bumpy ride as the two dominant factions were pulling all sorts of dirty tricks.
“Zuma is a prime example of using intelligence in a malicious way, however, we hope the delegates can choose people according to real fundamental policies to change the country in terms of serving the poor, the workers, the marginalised, the women, all the groups that Jacob Zuma has actually acted against, because for him what has been primary is serving himself and his own particular interests. We need what happened with the freedom charter in 1954 to go out to the people of this country – and get their views on what is going wrong and what is needed,” said Kasrils.
Kasrils, who served under Mbeki’s leadership, said despite Mbeki’s political errors, like the HIV/AIDS issue, he was not corrupt and he had never tried to use the intelligence services to work against the Zuma team.
“I was never a friend of Mbeki but I grew to admire him because he was not corrupt and he had a sharp mind. During my four year stint as intelligence minister there was no information that any money went into Mbeki’s pockets,” he said.
Ronnie Kasrils signing a book during the launch of the book titled, A simple Man: Kasrils and the Zuma Enigma.
The former spy minister also took a swipe at the police, saying the country has a dysfunctional police force and intelligence services. People needed the will and commitment to serve instead of using enforcement agencies for their own ends.
“Eradicating the province’s political killings was attainable through decent policing and a commitment to serve. What I find so incredible is that Zuma actually came to prominence in South Africa in part for the role he played in neutralizing violence in the then Natal, but now he has no interest in it. The enforcement services have become rotten. They are allowing this to happen. The answer to all of this is that we as South Africans have to get involved. It’s no good sitting at home while people are protesting against Zuma,” he said.
Lungisani Mnguni became the latest victim when he was gunned down on Monday by unknown assailants. The Moses Mabhida region ANC called Mnguni’s death an assassination. The Hawks are offering a reward of up to R450,000 for information related to the killings. A special task team has been established while the Moerane Commission of inquiry investigates politically motivated killings in the province since 2011.
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