Childish giggles and Butcher of Darfur

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma is at it again, doing what he does best, leading the diminishing ANC at its national general conference with song, dance and laughter.

With his signature childish gig- gle, “He, he, he! You can’t catch me now”, he mocks the International Criminal Court (ICC) after the ANC passed a resolution calling on the country to cease its membership of the world body. It is very well timed as it comes on the eve of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation.

Now he can invite his friend, Omar al Bashir, the butcher of Darfur, to be his guest again in the country – without fear of what the world might think and say about him keeping company with a dictator. Al Bashir will not have to duck and dive when he comes back to South Africa for the forum later this year. Being Africans, they share a common bond and they can sit and chat without fear of the toothless ICC.

Zuma has always maintained that no one can dictate to him. He can be friends with whoever he wants – the Shaiks, the Guptas and the Bashirs of this world. Didn’t we know that friendship is a fundamental, democratic right?

The reason for the ANC decision: “The ICC has lost its direction.” An interesting insight by a party that cannot put its own house in order.

It cannot see how far it has strayed away from the noble principles of the Freedom Charter, plundering and looting the country in broad daylight. It’s therefore very selective about the company it keeps. It bans the Dalai Lama, but invites into the country a man wanted for war crimes. T MARKANDAN

Silverglen