Why Zuma is incapable of surprising on the upside in tonight’s SONA

Some expect President Jacob Zuma to surprise on the upside in tonight’s State of the Nation address. I’m not among them. Because short of tendering his resignation, Zuma simply doesn’t have the capacity to inspire his depressed fellow citizens.

This is not entirely his fault. The King of Nkandla is a charming man and riveting raconteur who sacrificed much for The Struggle. But he lacks intellectual curiosity and reads little, hence lacks the basic tools to lead a complex, modern economy.

As a result, repeatedly flashing warnings get ignored or rubbished. Like those rigorously researched reports from the IMF, World Bank, WEF, ratings agencies and even our own National Development Plan which lie in lonely corners of the Presidency gathering dust. Without deep reflection on these realities, it is unrealistic to expect anyone to realistically appraise the parlous state of the nation.

SA’s President is very human, a detached septuagenarian surrounded by sycophants. The man in a bubble who honestly believes he has a good story to tell. A story the Edelmans Trust Barometer says only 16% of Zuma’s fellow citizens will swallow. But that stat is just one more in a long list unable to penetrate the good news filter. And as long as those close by give the thumbs up, all is well.

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