A victory for virtue

THE eighth motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma’s leadership was revealing.

It revealed a strong and encouraging trend in the direction of a desire for a change in leadership, a change that would rid South Africa of a leader perceived to be dishonest, corrupt and under suspicion of criminal acts.

Speeches made by the opposition party leaders and members were potent and convincing as they were based on fact, as well as universally endorsed perceptions of complicity by Zuma – corruption, looting the state coffers on a grand scale and colluding with foreign agents.

Repeated emphasis was placed on the fact that the motion was not meant to dismiss the ANC, only to remove the president accused of all manner of serious transgressions of law and oath.

In strong contrast, the speeches made by the ANC party members rang false, off the point, and contrived. One minister with body language and a voice loaded with insincere and inappropriate gravitas even described the motion as an attempted coup d’état, which was obvious nonsense as there were no armed forces even remotely invoked.

It was pathetic. Defending the indefensible is pathetic, and will remain so.

Fortunately, at least 10% of the ANC faction voted for the motion, no doubt driven to such a decision by a deep sense of shame for finding themselves trapped in a corrupted party previously characterised by high ideals and morals.

The public support for the removal of the president was widespread and spontaneous. The demonstrating party “in opposition” must have cringed in the face of the contempt expressed by the opposition speakers, cringed because it must have dawned that the truth lay with the opposition.

The motion, even in its failed mantle, was a victory for virtue, including at last, a Speaker who invoked the secret ballot that revealed all.