Power Vindicates?

I see South Africa’s Jacob Zuma has managed to get the court case against him dropped, once more demonstrating that the South African judiciary is now completely controlled by the ANC. Zuma had faced charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering in relation to the largest government arms deal in post-apartheid South Africa. 

The ANC had the original charges crushed, presumably to protect their own. Mbeki, for political purposes sought to have the charges reinstated in order to disarm his opponent. The court case became a political weapon within the ANC, eventually causing the ANC’s “old guard”, loyal to Mbeki to split from the ANC.

Politics aside, it was clear that Zuma had a case to answer to. Archbishop Desmond Tutu recently criticised the machinations of Zuma to avoid the court case, being branded a “traitor” for his pains. Unfortunately, Tutu is right and this last abuse of the court system is probably the start of an inevitable slide towards a Mugabe-like dictatorship (Dictatorship in the guise of democracy)

Zuma is a likeable man, hugely popular and charismatic. But his politics are highly anti-democratic as witnessed by this response.

“The case has been closely followed by investors looking for political stability and has raised concerns about the independence of South Africa’s judiciary.

“Zuma said the case showed state institutions such as parliament needed to be strengthened to avoid abuse of power.

““Something clearly needs to be done to make them more effective in their oversight roles,” he said.”

His response to the possible compromise of the judiciary? The government needs to be strengthened.

Zuma claims the dropping of this case vindicates his. All it does is demonstrate that power is everything in South Africa. And power never vindicates, it only vanquishes.

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