Zuma’s 9/12 over-reach – obvious to all, except those in his KZN heartland
During my roadshow last week it was noticeable how deeply South Africa is divided right now. In Gauteng, the Western Cape and even Mpumalanga, disgust at growing corruption and blatant cronyism of the Zuma Administration is palpable. People talk openly about ejecting a deeply complicit President as the first step to returning to promises embedded in one of the finest Constitutions on earth. But in Jacob Zuma's KZN heartland, it is even more than business as usual. For instance, in capital Pietermaritzburg, honest public servants threatening the network of patronage are under siege. Municipal manager Mxolisi Nkosi's suspension was followed last week by a similar "improper and irrational" action against the city's chief internal auditor Petrus Mahlaba. He was sent home by the two people – acting municipal manager Boniwe Zulu and deputy Ray Ncgobo – whose names are front and centre in the auditor's corruption investigations. Neither of them, incidentally, actually has the legal right to suspend Mahlaba – but they did so anyway. Zuma's acolytes, especially in KZN, are lashing out at all critics, even accusing the banks of having acted in concert against the recently departed Guptas. They accuse those challenging the status quo as railing against "democracy". But the tide has turned. Those abusing the system are sure to eventually take a step too far. As the piece below suggests Zuma did on 9 December, 9/12, when he spectacularly over-reached. – Alec Hogg
By Liesl Peyper
