Ex-presidents’ attacks on Ramaphosa would seem hypocritical, disingenuous
Last weekend, SA witnessed an unprecedented slew of attacks on President Cyril Ramaphosa by three of his predecessors — Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Montlanthe and Jacob Zuma. Their attacks are what scholar Xolela Mangcu generally alludes to in his book To the Brink: The State of Democracy in South Africa. The rot these three were talking about started during their respective tenures and has blossomed in the current term of leadership. So it is disingenuous for them to try to exonerate themselves now.
When Mangcu’s book was launched it received a lot of backlash from Mbeki loyalists who positioned him as a messiah without fault. One of the weaknesses of Mbeki has always been his intolerance and entitlement, thinking he is the best thing to ever happen to our country. To be fair, he played an important role, but for him to think he is beyond reproach is his downfall, and those close to him have failed him by not pointing out his mistakes.
Montlante is the reason we got stuck with Zuma after his cowardice made him hesitant to stand against the man until the last minute. So he does not have the moral high ground to stand up against Ramaphosa, instead of providing leadership during a period of crisis.
And frankly, I don’t understand why we still give Zuma audience as he is the same man under whose leadership state capture thrived.
Responsible elders do not behave the way these former presidents have behaved. Ramaphosa by nature is a weak character, but he was imposed by the same people lambasting him now. My small advice to these retired fellows is to stop their preoccupation with Ramaphosa and rather focus on mending the country that during the tenure of the ANC has gone into economic decline, leading to poverty and inequality.
In 1994 the ANC won votes overwhelmingly under Nelson Mandela with a tone of reconciliation and attraction of investors and setting up of democratic structures aimed at empowering all citizens.
Madiba, the great giant, knew when to leave office and after his tenure the man who is more like a traditional leader of the ANC, having been groomed from infancy, took over his inheritance.
Mbeki has always been a privileged person and even in Zimbabwe, while many faced challenges while in exile, he was surrounded by people who worshipped him. So he surrounded himself with the same cabal and in turn ostracised all those who challenged his views, using everything at his disposal. Obviously he is an intolerant fellow who thinks he is above everyone and untouchable.
So what gives Mbeki the right to take other leaders on while he never wanted to be questioned? He should have known better and discussed organisational issues internally and not played to the gallery, trying to redeem himself while we know our problems started during his time. The recently published book on the ANC billionaires is mainly about his cronies who acquired all the wealth during his time.
The only difference with the Mbeki-era millionaires is that they knew how to steal and cover their tracks after looting, unlike the Zuma pirates who didn’t. Mbeki welcomed the Guptas into this country and a smart man like him obviously knew the danger they were bringing but chose to shut up and handed the time bomb to a vulnerable Zuma. So Mbeki is also to be blamed for “state capture”.
So the drama from these former presidents who are supposed to be our “think-tank” and hope during this period of moral decay and shortage of leaders with credibility and integrity is unfortunate.
As Steve Biko said: “While it maybe relevant now to talk about blacks in relation to whites, let us not make this our preoccupation for it might be a negative exercise.” So to crucify a helpless Ramaphosa publicly is not assisting a moribund ANC. The once glorious movement is on the brink and elders are expected to fix the problem rather than destroy it.