A NEW ERA
KHAYA SITHOLE: Zuma’s hostilities must be swiftly undone
If there is one thing Jacob Zuma has done well during his turbulent term as president of the ANC and the republic, it is playing to the narrative that he is a victim of forces intent on ousting him and, by extension, removing the ANC from power. For most of his term he has benefited from the ANC either explicitly supporting his position or taking the view that he knew best. As a consequence, the ANC was dragged into supporting his narrative of hostility even when reality indicated that his allegations had little basis in fact. His attack on "third forces" – the media, opposition parties and NGOs — reached fever pitch as he savaged them in his last address as ANC president. Part of the reason Zuma had such fractured relations with these forces is that he regarded them as hostile to someone of his background. His list of adversaries grew in the latter days of his presidency to include established business and the black middle class, who he branded "clever blacks". While the Black Busi...
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