RANJENI MUNUSAMY: Why do South Africans refuse to see the failings of their political leaders?
'Politicians use their positions and access to resources to amass wealth. When exposed, they declare it fake news and attack the media'
EXTRACT
The unravelling of the liberation movement and erosion of its values, and corresponding corruption of the political elite, followed a predictable trend.
It is therefore quite surprising how many people have been sucked into a false sense of security in the "New Dawn", believing that the ejection of Zuma as president has resolved our problems and South Africa's prospects would automatically be better.
It is also astounding that after the experience of state capture and the infestation of corruption in all levels of the state across all provinces, people are still unwilling to open their minds to the prospect that political leaders can be corrupt.
South Africans like to believe that our politics are unique. They really aren't. Our liberation struggle and the Mandela phenomenon certainly were exceptional, and it is quite extraordinary that we've had two presidents being recalled from office. While big personalities like Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma determined a time in history, the course of politics has unfolded in a similar pattern to many post-democracy nations.The unravelling of the liberation movement and erosion of its values, and corresponding corruption of the political elite, followed a predictable trend. It is therefore quite surprising how many people have been sucked into a false sense of security in the "New Dawn", believing that the ejection of Zuma as president has resolved our problems and South Africa's prospects would automatically be better. It is also astounding that after the experience of state capture and the infestation of corruption in all levels of the state across all provinces, people ...
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