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Thread: A political solution to the Zuma dilemma

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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    A political solution to the Zuma dilemma

    It seems the noise level for a political solution to the Jacob Zuma corruption trial problem is escalating. What I find interesting is that the noise seems to be to find a way past the imminent trial, rather than facing up to the rather more obvious solution.

    At the risk of ticking a few people off, this is a crisis not because JZ is facing a corruption trial. It is a crisis because the ANC has set him up as their leader. And from there the country's leader in waiting. The corruption issue was already present before the president-on-trial issue arose.

    Now in quite a few parts of the world and amongst lots of political parties this would not be a problem at all. They wouldn't view this as a dilemma because they wouldn't have appointed a person as their leader in the first place knowing he/she still had to cross this kind of hurdle.

    Yep! No-one wandered into this blind. It wasn't some murky secret that emerged after the fact. The ANC congress met at Polokwane in the full knowledge that this problem existed and had to be navigated. I guess the position was that supporting a leader despite this handicap is somehow laudable instead of sheer folly.

    There wasn't anyone else who could have been nominated and elected?
    Someone without this cloud hanging over them?
    Does the ANC really have so few options for top dog available?

    And I suppose the prospect of the hot-heads that got JZ elected going and fixing their mistake is even more remote.

    The political solution lies in the ANC's own hands, and they don't need to push an amnesty through and tarnish the whole country to solve it.

    Find a leader for the country that doesn't have a cloud having over him - or her. And let's get on with building a country where crime doesn't pay and honest work gets its just reward.
    Last edited by Dave A; 28-Aug-08 at 09:44 PM.

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    Gold Member Chrisjan B's Avatar
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    I wholeheartedly agree!

    What is it with this people? Possibly they see a whole new gravy train coming?

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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    I see Helen Zille is jumping on this issue this week too. She has a different style, though
    Helen Zille, the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and mayor of Cape Town, has called on South Africans to resist the "political blackmail" from organisations that support the advance of African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma to the presidency.

    Writing in her online newsletter, SA Today, on Friday, she condemned those who are calling for a political solution that would let Zuma off the hook in order to preserve stability in the country.

    She said this argument is bogus.
    rest of the story from M&G here
    Go Helen Go!

    The legal costs are also in the limelight:
    The state's legal bill for former deputy president Jacob Zuma - now ANC President - totals almost R10-million so far, according to the Presidency.

    "An amount of R9 676 176,21 has to date been paid in respect of legal costs in the corruption charges against the former deputy president," Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad said in written reply to a parliamentary question by Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille.

    Since the matter was struck off the roll in September 2007, no further request for payment for the Zuma legal team had been made over and above this figure.
    full story from IOL here
    Go Patricia Go!

    And just to add a splash of sauce - from the same story:
    In written reply to another question - by Len Joubert of the Democratic Alliance - Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Brigitte Mabandla confirmed the matter.

    "The legal representation in the corruption matter is provided as the State has a direct interest in the matter as it is alleged that the charges relate to the strategic arms procurement process entered into by the state.

    As a result of the direct interest of the state in the matter, the Presidency agreed to pay the cost of the legal representation in that matter subject to the condition that, in the event of a conviction in the case, the funds expended on the legal representation will be recovered from the accused," she said.
    The state has a direct interest in the defence? I can understand the direct interest in the prosecution, but the defence?

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