Ramping up of ANC’S factional battle is bad news

Former president Jacob Zuma has not precipitated a constitutional crisis with his refusal to ignore a legal summons to appear before the commission of inquiry into state capture, and his subsequent spurning of the Constitutional Court order to do just that. But his actions are a major political challenge to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC. By consciously and without legal reason ignoring the prescripts of both the commission and the highest court in the land, Zuma patently brought himself into contempt of both forums.

Zuma acknowledged his fate on Monday when he said “I will face jail time” if convicted by the Concourt of the criminal charge of contempt. Former presidents have no legal role in the state. Thus no constitutional crisis will arise from Zuma being convicted and even jailed.

Sadly, he has disdained any moral obligation, which might accrue to someone formerly operating at the highest level of government, to behave in a manner which encourages the populace to obey the law in every respect. He has sacrificed the opportunity to refute the claims he sold off SA ’ s state enterprises, if not our democratic ideals, for venal ends to private, foreign interests.

However, Zuma’s actions have precipitated a deep political crisis for the ANC. The ANC has finally woken up to the challenge, agreeing to its top six leaders meeting with Zuma over his refusal to co-operate with the state capture inquiry.

We do not hold our breath that the ruling party will act with SA’S best interests in mind. Not much may be expected from a party leadership whose opposing factions have pursued the expedient, nefarious and even illegal, at the expense of SA.

This is best reflected in the announcement of an intended meeting with Zuma being delivered by his acolyte, general secretary Ace Magashule, also deeply implicated in the corrupt sell-off of state assets. If Zuma is unable to refute the claims brought against him at the commission, rapprochement will not be in his interests. Instead, he will steadily unleash his supporters, including the MK Military Veterans’ Association, to sow mayhem within the party, hoping to ensure victory of his faction over that of Ramaphosa.

There is no comfort for anyone in a brutal ramping up of the low-intensity factional battle the country has endured until now; the battle has already had disastrous consequences for every aspect of our common existence.

And yet, Zuma spitting on the rule of law to avoid accountability also cannot be countenanced.

There is no comfort for anyone in a brutal ramping up of the low-intensity factional battle SA has endured