No more Zexit time-wasting

Talk is cheap, but ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement yesterday that the transition of power in the country will be sorted out without any further delay should be welcomed. For more than a week Jacob Zuma’s future as president of the country has been in question, with the State of the Nation address and various other ANC engagements postponed or cancelled due to uncertainty around South Africa’s leadership. With the budget speech just more than a week away, a decision on Zuma’s future needs to be taken – and quickly.

Today the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) will seek to “finalise this matter” and in a manner that puts the interests of the country first.

Calls for Zuma to go have grown louder after Ramaphosa replaced him as leader of the ruling party at the end of last year, and as he fights corruption charges.

“The ANC NEC will be meeting to discuss and finalise this matter,” said Ramaphosa, in a speech yesterday as part of year-long celebrations to mark 100 years since the birth of former president Nelson Mandela. “We know you want this matter to be finalised. We know you want closure on this matter. We must keep our eyes on what is in the interests of all our people.”

Throughout the past week the ANC urged the public to be patient as they sought to find a solution in negotiations with Zuma, with the ANC’s chairperson Gwede Mantashe adding his weight to the discussions at the weekend. “There is no disagreement about where we want to go (on Zuma), but how to do that is the responsibility of leadership,” Mantashe told the rally. “Allow (Ramaphosa) to lead. Leadership is a science, a profession and also an art. Allow Ramaphosa to use his art and his personality to manage this.”

Yes, let Ramaphosa and company manage this process. But don’t waste any more time in doing so.