Signs are Zuma power is slipping
ANC policy conference shows president is out of touch both with the depth of the challenges the ruling party faces and with the sentiment of its members, write Natasha Marrian and Genevieve Quintal
President Jacob Zuma’s support among rank-and-file members of the ANC is not as solid as his backers want us to believe. His opening address at the party’s policy conference was repetitive and weak, revealing a leader in a corner and out of touch with the depth of the challenges his organisation faces. Zuma gave glimpses of his real thoughts as he veered off script, lecturing ANC branch members on their role in electing and removing a president. Only branch members had the power to do so, he said, questioning them for remaining quiet when others sought to usurp that role. Further evidence emerged in the conference commission sessions that he is out of touch with party members. The first power play arose over ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe’s hard-hitting diagnostic report on the problems facing the party. Zuma’s backers reportedly received instructions right from the top to block Mantashe from presenting his report, but the attempt was destined to fail from the start. The repor...
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