TONY LEON: A tale of two seriously damaged presidents. One of them is ours
'The return of Molefe to Eskom and the ridiculous reasons offered for it makes even Trump’s explanation for firing James Comey seem plausible'
Here are two — of several — quotes plucked from the weekend which seem to describe the depressing national condition into which the Jacob Zuma presidency has plunged South Africa with its continuing attacks on the rule of law, good governance and sane economics. First: “We haven’t had a president in a long time, maybe ever, who’s presented this kind of frontal assault on so many institutions.” Second: “I feel as though our system of [constitutional] checks and balances is under assault and is eroding.”Actually, the quotes are real but their target is not. The first appeared in the Financial Times weekend edition, and is culled from a US Republican operative’s dismay and fear following the extraordinary decision of President Donald Trump to fire FBI director James Comey, coupled with his later warning that he would release tapes of their conversations should Comey dare speak against him. Many in Washington view the sacking — and the conflicting versions offered for it — as a cover-up...
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