EDITORIAL | ANC’s indifference makes all the difference, thus Ace’s defiance

We shouldn’t be surprised by ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule’s impassioned defence of former president Jacob Zuma this week. We shouldn’t be surprised by the brazenness and audacity of his self-serving statements – and neither should the ANC. The ruling party has created this problem by burying its head deep in the sand. 

The ANC’s integrity commission in December already recommended that Magashule step down pending the outcome of his corruption trial. And, it added, if he resisted, the ANC should consider suspending him. The integrity commission said the national executive committee must implement the ANC’s resolution that those facing formal corruption charges step aside.

We are now in February and Magashule is swanning around the country, using a visit to the home of the late anti-apartheid struggle stalwart Rebecca Kotane as a platform to defend his state capture-accused comrade. “Just leave comrade Zuma alone,” he said. “President Zuma is a South African. He has his own rights.” This as Zuma declared he would rather go to jail than abide by a ruling of the highest court forcing him to participate in the state capture inquiry. 

The blame lies squarely on the ANC, whose leaders have failed to show any backbone in enforcing their own party’s decisions.

Magashule was particularly displeased with the Eastern Cape ANC, who dared to call for Zuma’s suspension. That was “out of order”, opined Magashule, rambling on about how Zuma is being targeted for being “a person who believes in what he believes”.

Again, no surprise here. Of course, he would say that. He himself  is not respecting the structures of the ANC – with zero consequences. 

None of this is Magashule’s fault. The blame lies squarely on the ANC, whose leaders have failed to show any backbone in enforcing their own party’s decisions. He is a beneficiary of the inaction of the ruling party following an injunction by the integrity commission that he be suspended should he not step aside. If indeed fraud and corruption are a menace to society, why is the ruling party dragging its feet on such a crucial issue? It should be setting an example for the government and the private sector on how to expeditiously deal with such matters. Instead, its nonchalance encourages a culture of impunity settling in our politics. 

As long as our so-called leaders allow the Magashules and Zumas to run circles around them, the tail will continue to wag the dog. 

Unless of course, the tails really are the ones in charge.