PRESIDENCY
XOLISA PHILLIP: The contradictions of Zuma’s rise play out in an ignoble decline
He could have had it all, but President Jacob Zuma is past being considered something of an administrative failure and is undoubtedly shaping up to be one of the most unpopular presidents in recent memory. Zuma could have finished his final year as ANC president on a high — almost everything he has done in the past 18 months lent itself to such an outcome. His office was part of the pivotal process involving the government, labour and business to try to get SA back on a growth course. Yes, he set off the trigger by firing Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister. But Zuma swiftly self-corrected and placed a credible candidate back in as finance minister. As a result of the collective efforts of the government, labour and business, SA Inc had a stay of execution in 2016 from being downgraded.Waning business confidence was starting to pick up and many economists believed the worst was behind us. Crucially, labour and business came to the party in deciding on a national minimum wage. These ar...
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