Houdini of SA politics does it again

20 March 2014 - 02:01 By Comment by Justice Malala
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SPEAKING OUT: Public protector Thuli Madonsela yesterday released her report relating to the 'security' upgrades at President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla homestead
SPEAKING OUT: Public protector Thuli Madonsela yesterday released her report relating to the 'security' upgrades at President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla homestead
Image: MOELETSI MABE

When President Jacob Zuma was quickly rising to power in the late 2000s much was made of the fact that his middle name is Gedleyihlekisa ("He who smiles while crushing you").

There was another name that the ANC rank and file liked to attach to him as he swatted aside one criminal charge or scandal after another: Phunyuka bemphete!

It is a Zulu expression meaning "The one who escapes [when there is no way out, every time]". In a Western context, it is the equivalent of calling Zuma "Houdini".

Yesterday, as the public protector proved that the emperor is naked, the name came back to me.

You see, of all the things that advocate Thuli Madonsela said in her report, she noted that Zuma did not "willfully" mislead parliament when, in November 2012, he said: "All the buildings in that residence was built by ourselves as family and not by the government."

The public protector's report leaves no leeway for Zuma to be impeached in parliament.

Though Madonsela said he was kept constantly updated on developments on Nkandla, she found that he did not "willfully" lie to parliament.

The ANC will still win the May 7 election, despite Zuma being a liability and a discredited leader.

One can only wonder at the speed with which we have gone from the exemplary leadership of a Nelson Mandela to that of a man who takes no responsibility - a man incapable of meaningful introspection who refuses to acknowledge that, for the sake of his party and the country, it is time for him to go.

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