Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
If you haven't read it yet, go and immerse yourself in Justice Malala's brilliant analysis of Zuma and the state. The headline sums it up: 'Zuma is not captured. The reality is far worse'.
What Malala argues with great cogency is that Zuma may have been instrumental in building the crony Gupta empire within the state, but he is not longer running the show. It is a smart, original insight that is worth exploring further.
Events, as they say, appear to have overtaken Zuma. Ministers such as Mosebenzi Zwane and Des van Rooyen call press conferences to viciously assault Gordhan. The presidency seems to find out about this in the media, issuing clarifications, denials and rebuttals after the fact.
What we appear to have on our hands is a rudderless state with number one jetting around the world as a ceremonial figure head while the knives are wielded with recklessness by the feral spawn of the crony state.
In this environment, it is very difficult to establish who has the upper hand. One day we have Van Rooyen wearing a camouflage t-shirt saying that Gordhan must bow to the Hawks. The next we have statements from Luthuli House that such pronouncements are inappropriate.
One day we have Zwane announcing that cabinet has decided to investigate banks that have denied the Gupta's bank accounts. The next we have the presidency saying no such decision has been taken.
What appears to be underway here is truly frightening. The crony forces are mobilising, throwing caution to the wind and trying to occupy the vacuum left by Zuma before the ANC leadership comes to its senses and takes back control.
We have entered some sort of interregnum with the old Zuma order vanishing and new contenders for power asserting themselves in increasingly chauvinistic ways. The first major victim is certainty. What is the ANC? A crony party? A party trying to seize back control from the crony empire? Who knows?
It is a dangerous environment which can easily lead to a backward slide. The appearance of these paramilitary uniforms in 'defence' of the ANC are comical, but alarming. MK's military history is repeating itself as farce, but today's farce might congeal into something altogether nastier.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
POLITICS LIVE: Jacob Zuma is gone, gone, gone ...
9.52
------
Jacob Zuma is gone, gone, gone ...
If you haven't read it yet, go and immerse yourself in Justice Malala's brilliant analysis of Zuma and the state. The headline sums it up: 'Zuma is not captured. The reality is far worse'.
What Malala argues with great cogency is that Zuma may have been instrumental in building the crony Gupta empire within the state, but he is not longer running the show. It is a smart, original insight that is worth exploring further.
Events, as they say, appear to have overtaken Zuma. Ministers such as Mosebenzi Zwane and Des van Rooyen call press conferences to viciously assault Gordhan. The presidency seems to find out about this in the media, issuing clarifications, denials and rebuttals after the fact.
What we appear to have on our hands is a rudderless state with number one jetting around the world as a ceremonial figure head while the knives are wielded with recklessness by the feral spawn of the crony state.
In this environment, it is very difficult to establish who has the upper hand. One day we have Van Rooyen wearing a camouflage t-shirt saying that Gordhan must bow to the Hawks. The next we have statements from Luthuli House that such pronouncements are inappropriate.
One day we have Zwane announcing that cabinet has decided to investigate banks that have denied the Gupta's bank accounts. The next we have the presidency saying no such decision has been taken.
What appears to be underway here is truly frightening. The crony forces are mobilising, throwing caution to the wind and trying to occupy the vacuum left by Zuma before the ANC leadership comes to its senses and takes back control.
We have entered some sort of interregnum with the old Zuma order vanishing and new contenders for power asserting themselves in increasingly chauvinistic ways. The first major victim is certainty. What is the ANC? A crony party? A party trying to seize back control from the crony empire? Who knows?
It is a dangerous environment which can easily lead to a backward slide. The appearance of these paramilitary uniforms in 'defence' of the ANC are comical, but alarming. MK's military history is repeating itself as farce, but today's farce might congeal into something altogether nastier.
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.
Popular Articles
POLITICAL WEEK AHEAD: Campaigning in top gear with less than 10 days to go
MK party banks on Zuma’s political appeal at polls, says Nathi Nhleko
SA Elections 2024
Fitch unit writes off MPC’s election chances
Party funding: ANC sweeps the opposition aside