The decision by President Jacob Zuma this week to deploy a battalion of soldiers to Cape Town as additional security ahead of the annual state of the nation address says more than any speech. It's all very 1985. The last thing South Africa needs is another Rubicon moment like PW Botha's refusal in 1985 to bow to the will of the country, choosing instead to clamp down on its citizens with unprecedented force. We defaulted on our debt, inflation rocketed and violence surged. It was hard to not conjure up gambling analogies this week as the president and core members of his cabinet held one of their regular meetings with business leaders at the GrandWest Casino complex outside Cape Town. Zuma is keen to position himself at the centre of economic life. The economy has not, to put it kindly, proved to be his strong point, hence his grin-and-bear-it interactions with the private sector. He is betting big business will deliver the growth he needs to salvage a modicum of credibility as his ...
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.