William Gumede

There cannot be any clearer illustration of the impotence of Africa’s continental and regional institutions to find local solutions to the continent’s problems than their numbing inaction in the face of the wave of popular rebellions against dictators in North Africa sweeping across the continent

Many an African dictator is trembling in his (invariably dictators appear to be mostly men) boots, following popular uprisings that swept long-time rulers out of power in Tunisia and Egypt.

South Africa’s extraordinary high levels of mass poverty, unemployment and inequality, are pegged at levels that were seen in many countries only during the Great Depression of the 1930s, or during or immediately following the aftermath of debilitating wars.

Given South Africa’s long and bitter history of racial oppression and its continued legacy, it is astonishing that the country is yet to have an open and transparent public discussion about race.

The raging debate over what makes one South African, which currently focuses on whether a person is African enough, is simply the wrong debate.

Can we ever cobble together a common South African-ness?

When South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) members, supporters and sympathisers voted for Jacob Zuma as leader of the ANC – and later of the country – they knew his private life and personal finances were shambolic.

The socialite Khanyi Mbau, notorious for partying, fast cars and rich ‘sugar daddies’ is not an oddball. She represents the new ‘bling’ culture which has now thoroughly become a part of the new South Africa.

What is happening to South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) and its leadership? There can be no doubt that for a ruling party to be a shareholder in a private company that tenders for state contracts represents a clear conflict of interest.

If one listens to public statements from many senior ANC-COSATU-SACP tripartite alliance leaders, double-speak, rhetoric and talking in code has now – sadly – become the dominant culture of politics.

Beyond the usual official rhetoric, one does not get a real sense of crisis, and a sense of urgency from government to do some different. Introducing shortcuts, such as downgrading pass marks, is an indication of the lack of seriousness.