Someone in the ANC must have courage to answer to public

Are we headed for another eight days in September? Are we building up to the removal of President Jacob Zuma, as we were in 2008 when some in the ANC were circling Thabo Mbeki? These are indeed interesting times.

The month of August has been bad for Zuma and things seem to be getting worse as we approach September.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed his application to prevent the release of the so-called spy tapes. It was these tapes that convinced the National Prosecuting Authority to clear the road for Zuma to walk into the presidency.

The court ruled that the actual recordings and internal memoranda and minutes of meetings dealing with the contents of the recordings be handed over to the DA.

The president is also still facing questions about the upgrades to his private home that cost taxpayers R246-million. Not only must Zuma give answers, he must also convince a sceptical public that he is not above the rule of law and his administration will not bend the rules to safeguard his presidency.

It was at around this time in the year that the Polokwane victors within the ANC circled Mbeki and succeeded in removing him as the president. It would be interesting to see whether they find their voices if Zuma is unable to win his battles.

We believe South Africa is at a crossroads between the rule of law and the politics of obfuscation.

It cannot be that at a time when we need leaders to rise to the occasion, no one in the ruling party - which is steeped in democratic values - is willing to stand up.

Someone must convince this nation to continue to have faith in Zuma by giving us the facts and revealing the true reasons certain decisions are made.

It does not help anyone, including the ANC, to muddy the waters and simply hope for a better tomorrow.

Democratic institutions that are part of this democracy must survive individual leaders.