Small feat for democracy in our nation
While Zuma has once again - for the eighth time to be precise - dodged accountability, Tuesday’s outcome has been deemed as a small victory for democracy
LAST week’s failed motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma did not come as a surprise to most South Africans, but what did was the evident underlying factor of continued division within the ruling party.
Utterances of infighting have long been reported as the ANC’s number one opposition, but this was put in plain sight of all South Africans on Tuesday when it was estimated that some 34 ANC MPs voted in favour of the motion.
‘The outcome of the no confidence vote was expected because there are too many vested patronage interests among the ANC MPs that needed to be protected, although the spin doctors within the ruling party advanced the notion that the opposition wanted a regime change and that the party must be protected at all costs.’
These were the views expressed by Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Commerce Administration and Law at the University of Zululand (Unizulu), Dr Irrshad Kaseeram.
While Zuma has once again – for the eighth time to be precise – dodged accountability, Tuesday’s outcome has been deemed as a small victory for democracy.
‘A sign of hope and a triumph for democracy has been the narrow margin by which the no confidence motion was defeated, by a mere 21 votes,’ said Kaseeram.
‘This signals the extent of the disgruntlement within the ANC which can no longer be hidden from the public.
‘The run-up to the 2019 elections is likely to see the destruction of the Tripartite Alliance and the splitting of the ANC.
‘This will become even more apparent should Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma win the ANC presidency race in December.
‘The significant minority of ANC constitutionalists and pragmatists will be uncomfortable within the party should the current dominant faction continue to shape the government of the day post 2019.’
Kaseeram further noted that the political climate remains uncertain as international investors see the defeated motion as a continuation of the faction responsible for corrupt governance and that private property rights uncertainty, anti-business policies and dismal growth will persist.
‘However, the hope for South Africa is that we will no longer have one party dominating the landscape, and that opposition forces will become stronger.
‘The possibility that a future coalition government might dislodge the ANC from power must be regarded as remote at this stage.
‘I think a more sober reality is that the ANC in its current form is likely to rule by a very slim majority.’
ALSO READ: Zuma remains the president of South Africa
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
