South Africa's Political Cul-De-Sac

SOUTH AFRICA - In Brief 04 Aug 2017 by Iraj Abedian
Another week draws to a close and South Africans' frustration grows on many fronts. Not only is the economy held hostage to a political cul-da-sac and facing a near-certain official junk-grade by the year end, the politics has gotten unbearably confusing and brutal. So, SA is full of tension, both within the political arena and in the broader society. There are many sources of tension too. One is the Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete's' silence on whether or not we are going to have a secret vote of no confidence! She promised she would do it before August 8th, but never committed to a date or time. Technically, she may announce it today or at 23h59 on 7th of August 2017! It is a crazy and inexplicable process. Rumours have it that she is horse-trading with Zuma and within the ANC. She has been positioning herself to be nominated and be supported by the Zuma camp to succeed Zuma in December 2019 at the ANC Elective Congress. That is the only chance she has to get to the office. Despite the general belief that President Zuma has pinned his personal support on Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (NDZ-his x-wife), he has never done so. And, NDZ has shown little general appeal, and very little public engagements with the prevailing issues. So, President Zuma is well aware that he may have to back another candidate, and that makes Mbete a potential for nomination. President Zuma has personally avoided mentioning any name, but has pushed for a woman president. Mbete is also much more compromised than NDZ, and as such a more reliable defender of President Zuma from December 2017 onward. Such is the prevailing speculations and explanation for an otherwise irrational refusal to announc...

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