Helen Zille and teh ANC Alliance Locking Horns (Benjamin Earwicker)

Lets’s look at the important bits of the letter that seemed to have raise the ire of the ANC and alliance:

“… And, more significantly, the ANC’s leader, Jacob Zuma, is a self-confessed womanizer with deeply sexist views, who put all his wives at risk by having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman. Even after this the ANC women’s league strongly endorsed his Presidential campaign. Their professions of support for women’s rights ring hollow indeed against this background. …”

Calling the country’s President a self-confessed womanizer with deeply sexist views is probably going over the top and should not be part of a media release. The observation about putting ‘all his wives at risk’ is reasonable and a simple statement of fact; but more in keeping with a conversation than a media release. The rest of the letter is an attempt to justify the composition of the Western Cape Provincial Cabinet and is along the lines of what the DA normally say.

Did the content of the letter justify the fury unleashed by the ANC and cohorts? Probably not. But, the continued hounding of Jacob Zuma (we talked about this previously) has exacerbated the situation and escalated the name calling to this point (excerpts from the ANC Youth League statement):

“… the racist girl Helen Zille …”

“… her stupid and sexist decision …”

“… all male cabinet of useless people, majority of whom are her boyfriends and concubines so that she can continue to sleep around with them …”

“… fake racist girl who was dropped on a head as child …”

This comes across as just plain childish. If children reacted in this way they would be sent to their rooms to think about things. That said, though, it has become very personal and I would not be surprised if Helen Zille did not make a(nother) call to the DA’s lawyers. Statements of this type are what we have come to expect from the ANC Youth League. It paints a woeful picture of the potential future leaders of the country.

Interestingly, we have not heard much from Jacob Zuma about the subject. He has let others do the dirty for him while he (in his inauguration speech) talked about working alongside the opposition. Is this a dignified silence or a calculated ploy to paint Helen Zille as a monster.

So, Helen Zille, it is time to back down for a bit and be more of a Premier and less of the leader of the National opposition. Let other members of your party do the politicking and dirty work. You are now the Premier of ALL the people in the Western Cape and not just those who voted for you. Help them realize their dreams they had on voting day. In the same way, Jacob Zuma is president of all the people of South Africa. He needs some time to get going.

What is YOUR take on all of this. Add a comment.

How is the African National Congress going to Swim against the stream? (Ilker)

The ANC has not been in opposition (except at the Local Government level in some towns and cities across South Africa) for 15 years. The style of opposition that it provided 15 years ago is not the style that is required in the modern democratic South Africa. There is no need for the violence and retaliation that marked the last years of apartheid. There is no need for using the trade unions to cause civil disturbances. There is no need for trumped up charges. There is no need for drawn out legal wranglings over every piece of legislation. The DA will have been elected to power in the Western Cape through a democratic election with universal suffrage and therefore deserve an ANC opposition that reflects, and is in-keeping with, a modern democratic state.

Could the ANC point out the problems of the DA provincial government in a way that is non-confrontational? Could the ANC compliment a DA provincial government when they do something well that is on the agenda of both parties? Could they, hopefully, not use the might of central government to ram through power grabbing or populist policies aimed at winning the next elections?

And finally, can there be a bit of quid pro quo? Could the DA limit some of the over the top rhetoric and attacks on the ANC, especially Jacob Zuma? Will the DA, likely to still be the official National opposition occasionally actually praise them, or maybe even just some of the ANC people in government.