Analysts slate JZ

The national dialogue held yesterday, which saw the country’s former presidents and a deputy take part, is likely to develop some kind of a report that could be conveyed to the already under-fire President Jacob Zuma, and even to Luthuli House [the ANC], said political analyst Elvis Masoga.

Speaking to Saturday Citizen yesterday, Masoga said the dialogue, which he described as a “presidential summit”, was an indication that everybody in the country could see that Zuma “had set alight and burnt down the strides and achievements of our hard won democracy and freedom”.

“Zuma has set alight major achievements of our democratic dispensation, and that’s why South Africa has become united as a society against this presidential arsonist,” he said.

Masoga said the drafters of the constitution, when they went to work on it in the early 90s, had envisioned somebody like Mandela – and leaders who had qualities of humility, wisdom and foresight. They never thought that one day the presidential office could be occupied “by a serious delinquent like Zuma".

Another political analyst, Ralph Mathekga, said the success of the dialogue would depend on the approach taken by the leaders.

“We have heard many people speaking out against President Zuma, but nothing has happened.

“The only way this dialogue can make a significant difference is if the leaders involved can mobilise the ordinary people on the ground and not keep it “among themselves”. He warned that the dialogue should not stress that it was about somebody’s removal.