Jacob Zuma’s toxic legacyPresident Jacob Zuma’s presidential style has undermined the South African constitution, the rule of law and rational policymaking. It has undermined the democratic idea of separation of powers between different spheres of government – the executive, legislature and judiciary. All this is because Zuma’s personal, family and factional interests have overridden the public interest.Unless checked, his presidential style will almost certainly accelerate South Africa’s slide towards a failed state, a society more polarised along racial lines and the breakdown of the ANC itself.How did this happen? How can it be that a country whose transition from minority-rule…
William Gumede
Africa: corruption The continent’s high levels of graft are at the root of its lack of development, and mostly affect the poor By William Gumede What is the extent of corruption in Africa? The recent Global Corruption Barometer shows that 12 of the 13 countries with the worst record of bribery are in Africa. The African Union estimates that 25% of the GDP of African states, or some $148 billion, is lost to corruption every year on the continent. The African Development Bank (AfDB) estimates corruption costs Africa up to 50% in lost tax revenues and over $30 billion in…
South Africa: inclusive versus exclusive politics Jacob Zuma’s narrow Zulu nationalism stands in the way of the development of an inclusive South African identity Most African countries were flung together by former colonial powers out of diverse ethnic, religious and regional communities, making them among the most diverse nations on earth. The colonial powers exploited these differences to play communities against each other and so reinforce their control over subject peoples. In so doing they prevented these peoples from presenting a united front against their colonial rulers. Sadly, in the post-colonial period, many African leaders and governments have sought support…
Jacob Zuma’s narrow Zulu nationalism stands in the way of the development of an inclusive South African identity
