The battle for soul of SA

THE SARS wars that have been playing themselves out in the media over the last few weeks and months, reaching a crescendo this week, are a metaphor for the crisis of governance this country finds itself in.

Since the Nenegate in December last year, which saw Pravin Gordhan reinstated as head of Treasury, the integrity of that state institution has become synonymous with his personal integrity.

Large sections of society view Gordhan as embodying legitimacy, credibility, sound judgment, nobility and unquestionable integrity – qualities associated with the revenue service.

It is on account of Gordhan’s character that business and labour stuck their necks out to work together to portray an image of a nation on a trajectory to stability.

Ratings agencies, international investors and South Africa’s trading partners gave the country the benefit of the doubt on the weight of Gordhan’s word.

This has pitted him against President Jacob Zuma who has come to symbolise the rot and corruption plaguing his government and eating up the ANC.

When the world and indeed the nation see Gordhan, they see a contrast to Zuma.

Zuma is synonymous with decline of and danger to the economy.

He represents the pillaging of state resources.

If Gordhan is the crusader for the public interest, Zuma is seen as the gravest threat to it.

The embattled finance minister is putting up a fight to save state coffers from continued looting.

While he is doing this, his opponents have taken aim at his honour.

The Zuma corner has realised that the only way to make Zuma look better is to make Gordhan look bad.

If the Zuma corner can precipitate a loss of confidence in Gordhan, than Zuma can say that he is not as bad as people said he is.

After all, look at what the “goody two-shoes” Gordhan turned out to be.

The attack on Gordhan is an attempt to deflect away from the consequences of Zuma’s poor leadership and scandal-laden presidency.

It is an attempt on the part of Zuma and his allies to find a scapegoat to pin the worsening of the economic crisis and instability and uncertainty in parastatals.

Gordhan stands in the way of an SAA bailout, of the Eskom nuclear deal and of the ongoing benefits Gupta companies derive from lucrative contracts with the likes of Denel, Eskom and others.

Supporting or opposing Gordhan is a choice between standing for right or standing by while the country is taken over by thieves.