Is the Writing on the Wall?

Is the current ANC government heading down a path all too common in Africa in the past 100 years.

I mean: Totalitarian Rule, Detention Without Trial, Insurrection, Arbitrary Arrests, Police State, Racism. Didn't we have enough of this under the National Party Regime?

Zwelinzima Vavi

What is clear is the divide within the ranks of the ruling party. On Monday Cosatu Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi agreed with President Jacob Zuma that the ANC was "in crisis". In comments made to the media he said that over the last 3 1/2 years a 

"powerful, corrupt, predatory elite combined with a conservative populist agenda to harness the ANC to advance their interests" had emerged.

In recent weeks Blade Nzimande (SACP Secretary General) has been vocal in his criticism of Zwelinzima Vavi, however he refers to the SACP support for President Zuma as a "media created problem". Read more here

Perhaps this is in line with the many remarks made in the past few weeks on National Television have which may be perceived as critical of the President and the ANC.

No doubt, the political arena in South Africa would be more interesting, healthy and definitely more representative of the will of the many differing interest groups, if the Tri-Partite alliance was to split up, and stand on their own platforms in the next general election!

Thulisile Madonsela

Further Concerns must be raised at the claims raised by the Star Newspaper (Which has been seen by many in recent years, as nothing more than an ANC mouthpiece, alleging that the arrest of Public Protector Thulisile Madonsela was imminent. 

This Morning Police ministry spokesman Ministry spokesman Zweli Mnisi denied the allegation, asking "where is the arrest warrant". (Read More).

Will this episode turn out to be another 'cause'in support of the proposed 'Secrecy Bill'.

If this is another case of 'sensationalsim in journalism' which we have seen so much of, especially in 'scandal rags' like the Sunday Times Newspaper, then it is also a case of the media hammering another nail into their own coffin of their right to 'freedom of of the press'.

On the other hand, it has been suggested in less public debate, a case of the government 'punishing' Thuli for not 'towing the official line'.

However, of deep concern must be the   criticism of the newspaper "for not approaching the Police Ministry for comment prior to Wednesday’s article". This is EXACTLY what the Nationalist Part Regime required of the media during the days of Apartheid. 

Has the time come for all of us who wish to live in a FREE nation, where the rule of LAW is applied to all citizens, regardless of their adherence to a 'government creed', to look elsewhere. for a place to live? Sadly, I believe this thought is uppermost in many peoples minds these days.

Babasizwe