Apportioning true blame for Zuma’s Mampara Award

Sad to see the Sunday Times name SA's President Jacob Zuma its 2014 Mampara of the Year. Perhaps we should blame his misfortune on those who deserve it.

Published on:

29 Dec 2014, 7:32 am

By Alec Hogg

It was sad to see the Sunday Times name South African President Jacob Zuma its 2014 Mampara of the Year. Some 90% of the newspaper's readers voted for the man from Nkandla to be named South Africa's King of Fools. Despite a proven bounce-back-ability, you've got to wonder how Zuma's reputation will recover.

Perhaps we should blame his misfortune on economists. Throughout history, it has been the duty of economists to convince politicians why their nations cannot have both guns and butter; high social grants and low tax; higher employment and inflexible labour laws. Or, in a local context, support a $20m upgrade to your private homestead and expect disciplined State spending.

South African economists have clearly not been heard. Maybe they can try harder, or differently, in 2015.