Where to now?

Now that President Jacob Zuma has survived yet another vote of no confidence in Parliament, the ANC has some serious introspection to do. Pertinent questions the ANC has to ask itself include: what lessons were learned from the drama in Parliament, and where to from here?

ANC faithfuls may argue the party and Zuma emerged victorious after this week’s showdown, but it seemed opposition parties were the winners on the day. Yes, they lost the vote, but what was achieved was more significant.

The opposition proved some members of the ANC were willing to defy their own party, and that Zuma no longer has the full support of all ANC MPs. They also proved there were ANC MPs scared enough to toe the party line despite the fact that Zuma has become a liability to the party and has huge credibility issues as far as the electorate is concerned.

Never, since democracy, has there been such public outrage over a South African president. Never before since democracy has the nation been so divided. And never before have so many people, including ANC supporters, called for the country’s president to step down. Under Zuma’s leadership the ANC has been steadily losing credibility and support. But what will it take for the party to stop the rot?

Tuesday’s event should serve as a big wake-up call for the ANC.

The ANC would do well to steer away from getting even with those party members who publicly expressed their views on Zuma’s leadership – and who most likely voted with the opposition.

Purging them would cause irreparable damage to the party. It will also strengthen opposition parties determined to keep coming after Zuma. But the ANC conference in December offers it an opportunity to refocus and change course.

Replacing Zuma is a no-brainer. His successor will have to work extremely hard to unite the ANC and restore confidence in the party in preparation for the 2019 general elections.

Hopefully, by then, the legacy of Zuma’s leadership would have been diminished to the extent his party can recover the support it has lost.