A sure sign of a shift in the political winds is the refrain by the ANC leadership under Cyril Ramaphosa to give President Jacob Zuma a "dignified" exit. The newly elected ANC president was adamant that Zuma would not be "humiliated". This is a far cry from the past decade of ANC rule, characterised by vindictiveness, recklessness and downright disrespect. Zuma dealt with his political opponents ruthlessly; humility and dignity were largely absent as he disposed of his enemies in a manner that was almost vulgar. From Julius Malema’s youth league to Cosatu leaders who turned against him, Zuma’s ANC dealt with dissenting views without principle or decency. It intensified towards the latter half of his second term as the state-capture project was cranked up. The consequences of the destruction could take years to uncover, let alone repair. Think back to the recall of Nhlanhla Nene in December 2015. Preceding that, a bogus spy report discrediting key figures in the Treasury was circulat...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.