JONNY STEINBERG: Do we need to go through a cataclysm to destroy the rot?
Ramaphosa’s caution holds both promise and danger, just as FW de Klerk’s bold actions did
Where would SA be now had Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma become ANC president in December 2017? It’s impossible to say, of course, but I’d hazard two guesses. The first is that major creditors would have refused to roll over the debt of state-owned enterprises and that the country would be bankrupt. The second is that Cyril Ramaphosa would be leader of an opposition alliance poised to win next Wednesday’s election. Counterfactuals are cheap, I know. The actual future always surprises us, for reality is stranger that anything our imaginations can conjure. It is equally conceivable that in the face of economic meltdown the thugs let loose by a Dlamini-Zuma presidency would have declared a state of emergency, thrown Ramaphosa in prison and postponed the election indefinitely. SA would have crossed a threshold from which it is hard to return. Those who could leave would have; everyone else would have had to fend for themselves. Nonetheless, it is sometimes fruitful to dream of the good things ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
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.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.