S
OUTH Africa’s democracy counts among the most celebrated world experiences since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the ’90s. Just over two decades later, it’s interesting to observe how we South Africans have been relating to our democracy. This inspired me to write When Zuma Goes, which I have been working on since 2007.
I’m fascinated by the complexity of South African society. The majority of people are conservative — across racial lines. Our constitution, however, is one of the most progressive when it comes to the protection of human rights. South Africans have thus far improvised and reoriented themselves to co-exist in a system of law that challenges their orthodox predisposition.
We are stranded in the middle of democracy and we have to keep on pushing forward, embracing the values that come with the democratic system, despite our misgivings and occasional frustrations with it. As a nation, we are reluctant democrats, to some degree. We embrace democracy when it favours us, and at times show half-hearted commitment when it comes to