ANC’s dithering on Zuma an insult

Late last night – after our press deadlines had passed – the ANC was still unable to grasp the nettle and remove Jacob Zuma as president of the country.

In holding out for some form of deal which would derail the legal process and stop him from being held accountable for giving away his country to his own, and other, selfish interests, Zuma was clearly fighting for his life.

He cared little for his legacy, which will, undoubtedly, only be negative because he will be remembered for the way he used his power to enrich himself and his friends.

His attitude will have continued to damage the ANC which, after the election of Cyril Ramaphosa as its president in December last year, looked set to chart a new, anti-corruption course.

The reality is that Zuma and his network deprived hundreds of thousands of poor and deserving citizens of money which could have made a difference to their lives.

The lifestyles of Zuma and his clique were, by contrast, almost obscenely luxurious. Even though Zuma appears to be still hanging on, it will be only a matter of time until the ANC realises it must act.

Its dithering is yet another insult to ordinary South Africans.

At the same time, we need to say, firmly: Never Again! No one person must ever be allowed to accumulate such power around himself and to so thoroughly pervert those systems on which ordinary South Africans rely to ensure their constitutional rights are respected.

The ruling ANC must seriously ponder how this was allowed to come about and how a movement with a proud record of fighting injustice could allow itself to be taken over and how its dissenting voices were ruthlessly suppressed.

If the ANC does not truly self-correct, then voters will punish it in 2019.