GARETH VAN ONSELEN: Whoever wins ANC election, there won’t be a leader
The potential future leaders of SA are likely to reflect the mood of the country in their decisions and action, rather than display a bold purpose and fresh vision that sets them apart
Which came first: President Jacob Zuma or the environment that produced him? One could ask that question about former president Thabo Mbeki, DA head Mmusi Maimane or EFF leader Julius Malema. To what degree did they just happen to personify the ideals and beliefs that defined the SA zeitgeist? Or, to what degree did their personal traits define it? It is a conundrum worth considering, because our zeitgeist is now as complex as it has ever been — and big leadership questions loom large. Zeitgeist is, in one sense, a synonym for “the national mood”. On a personal level, moods are fluid and their effect on priorities is inconsistent and often disproportionate. Of those various concerns that together form our collective id and superego — our base instincts and moral code — it would seem awareness of corruption is pre-eminent today. It is perhaps the primary lens through which we analyse current affairs and evaluate leadership. Race is in the mix, as it always has been. And so too, it wo...
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