Though Jacob Zuma extended the olive branch to an unimpressed President Thabo Mbeki, it is hard to look past the NEC list to learn that things will never be the same in the ANC.
Though Jacob Zuma extended the olive branch to an unimpressed President Thabo Mbeki, it is hard to look past the NEC list to learn that things will never be the same in the ANC.
Zuma referred to the atrocious behaviour of some of his supporters on the opening day of the ANC conference. The behaviour of the delegates towards the perceived Mbeki grouping was despicable and, coupled with the voting pattern, rubbished Zuma's attempt at bridging the gap.
The media, Zuma's supporters and many others have already installed the ANC as the next ruling party. They have assumed that despite the despicable character of some of the Zuma sideshow, the South African public will be so hamstrung that they will simply vote for the ANC without too much thought.
While the ANC was a liberation movement, it was hard to vote against them. Who would vote against Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, considering all they have sacrificed to make this country what it is? But the ANC is no longer a liberation movement. It simply is a political party prone to personalities regardless of their policies. This change is thanks to Cosatu, the SACP, ANCYL and so on.
I think anyone that underestimates Kgalema Motlanthe does so at their own peril. Though the ANC constitution makes no allowance for the deputy president to replace the president, he is smart enough to engineer this himself, and push Zuma and Mbeki off the cliff.
He has been at the centre of the e-mail hoax scandal as a victim and even managed to oppose Zuma while being on the Zuma ticket. He then criticised the NEC, himself included, but obviously targeting Mbeki.
Len Anderson, Johannesburg
Motlanthe is the big winner
Though Jacob Zuma extended the olive branch to an unimpressed President Thabo Mbeki, it is hard to look past the NEC list to learn that things will never be the same in the ANC.
Though Jacob Zuma extended the olive branch to an unimpressed President Thabo Mbeki, it is hard to look past the NEC list to learn that things will never be the same in the ANC.
Zuma referred to the atrocious behaviour of some of his supporters on the opening day of the ANC conference. The behaviour of the delegates towards the perceived Mbeki grouping was despicable and, coupled with the voting pattern, rubbished Zuma's attempt at bridging the gap.
The media, Zuma's supporters and many others have already installed the ANC as the next ruling party. They have assumed that despite the despicable character of some of the Zuma sideshow, the South African public will be so hamstrung that they will simply vote for the ANC without too much thought.
While the ANC was a liberation movement, it was hard to vote against them. Who would vote against Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, considering all they have sacrificed to make this country what it is? But the ANC is no longer a liberation movement. It simply is a political party prone to personalities regardless of their policies. This change is thanks to Cosatu, the SACP, ANCYL and so on.
I think anyone that underestimates Kgalema Motlanthe does so at their own peril. Though the ANC constitution makes no allowance for the deputy president to replace the president, he is smart enough to engineer this himself, and push Zuma and Mbeki off the cliff.
He has been at the centre of the e-mail hoax scandal as a victim and even managed to oppose Zuma while being on the Zuma ticket. He then criticised the NEC, himself included, but obviously targeting Mbeki.
Len Anderson, Johannesburg