WSM: Pretoria is oblivious to widespread public anger, many potential sparks that could inflame SA

Veteran columnist William Saunderson-Meyer joins Alec Hogg to discuss South Africa’s mounting political crisis, faltering leadership under Cyril Ramaphosa, and the crumbling promise of the GNU. With 32 years of insight from his "Jaundiced Eye" column, Saunderson-Meyer explores rising public discontent, institutional decay, and the urgent need for political change..Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here.The auditorium doors will open for BNIC#2 on 10 September 2025 in Hermanus. For more information and tickets, click here..Watch here.Listen here.BizNews Reporter.Veteran political columnist William Saunderson-Meyer, whose Jaundiced Eye column has been running for an extraordinary 32 years, sat down with Alec Hogg to unpack South Africa’s increasingly volatile political climate. From failed leadership under President Cyril Ramaphosa to the faltering Government of National Unity (GNU), Saunderson-Meyer offered a sobering analysis of the country's trajectory.“We are not at a dramatic moment, but it is certainly a seriously dangerous one,” he warned, referring to what he described as a “simmering discontent” that stretches far beyond KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The sense of frustration, especially among the middle classes, is growing. According to Saunderson-Meyer, South Africans feel like the country is not getting to grips with its mounting challenges, especially the lack of economic growth- one of the key promises that underpinned the formation of the GNU.Ramaphosa’s leadership, or lack thereof, is central to Saunderson-Meyer’s concerns. “He’s misreading the room,” he said, citing the President’s delayed and underwhelming response to explosive allegations from former acting police commissioner Mkhwanazi. “There’s an air of arrogance and aloofness,” Saunderson-Meyer noted, recalling Ramaphosa’s habitual tardiness and ineffective public appearances. “He shows disdain for the very people whose support he needs at this tense moment.”The columnist pointed out that Ramaphosa appears increasingly isolated, not only from the public but from parts of his own party. Legacy ANC organisations like the Sisulu Foundation and the Kathrada Foundation have publicly criticised his failure to act decisively, particularly in the case of Mkhwanazi’s claims of political interference in law enforcement.The appointment of Mr Mcebisi Jonas - who cannot enter the United States on a diplomatic visa - to lead trade negotiations was another flashpoint. Democratic Alliance MP Emma Powell was harshly attacked for merely pointing this out. “It echoes the last days of the National Party,” Saunderson-Meyer observed, “when any criticism was met with rage and denial.”The broader issue, he explained, is a pervasive rot in public institutions. “From Chapter Nine bodies to state-owned enterprises, they’re either 50% or 90% rotten,” he said. Even in academia, allegations of ghostwriting squads churning out doctorates for politicians are indicative of a system that has lost integrity. “It’s one of the fastest-growing industries in the sector,” he quipped grimly.Regarding the new Minister of Police, Saunderson-Meyer expressed scepticism. “He’s an academic with no policing background,” he said. “He lacks urgency and appears unwilling to challenge corruption - he allowed a key anti-corruption report to be buried without protest.” The timing of his appointment is also suspect, with the minister delaying his start to attend university farewell events. “That’s absurd during a national crisis,” he noted.Looking ahead, Saunderson-Meyer believes that clinging to Ramaphosa out of fear of what might follow is no longer viable. “Each administration since 1994 has been worse than the last,” he argued. A motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa, even if it doesn’t trigger an election, might still shake up the political order enough to produce a credible alternative.“There is no saviour on the horizon,” he added. “But waiting until 2029 for things to improve is a luxury South Africa cannot afford.” The solution, he said, lies in intensifying pressure for change, even if it means enduring further political instability in the short term.With the country at yet another crossroads, Saunderson-Meyer’s message was clear: something has to break. Soon. “The longer we delay addressing our fundamental problems, the longer it will take to fix them. We’re already decades behind. Why wait another 30 years before beginning the road back?”

WSM: Pretoria is oblivious to widespread public anger, many potential sparks that could inflame SA

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