Two centres of power have developed within the ANC, with President Cyril Ramaphosa wielding formal leadership power, but former president Jacob Zuma now wielding informal power which is undermining governance in the ANC, as well as government.
Zuma’s defiance of the Constitutional Court, and the ANC and opposition parties trekking to Nkandla to appease him, shows that Zuma may not have an official position within the ANC or government, but he appears almost as an unofficial president of the governing party.
After last week’s visit to Nkandla, the Zuma compound has appeared to have become the parallel headquarters of the ANC Women’s League. Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma tweeted: “A very productive engagement.” Judging from the posture, it appears it was a tell-it-all from the Union Buildings of Inkandla.
The ANC’s top six leaders, including Ramaphosa, last week spent six hours in a Zoom meeting with Zuma, trying to persuade him to follow the prescriptions of the Constitutional Court and appear before the Zondo Commission. Police minister Bheki Cele went there a few weeks ago, and had the humiliation of having to ask permission to enter from the ragtag so-called military veterans “defending” Zuma from the reach of the law.
Zuma has been using his potential to unleash violence, or stir supporters to unleash it against the state or political opponents. This is of course unacceptable, as in a functioning democracy only the state has the power to unleash violence.
If Zuma gets away with defying the Constitutional Court and the Zondo commission because of ANC fears that arresting him would unleash violence, it will set a new precedent whereby an individual who can threaten violence is above the law.
If Zuma gets away with defying the Constitutional Court and the Zondo commission because of ANC fears that arresting him would unleash violence, it will set a new precedent whereby an individual who can threaten violence is above the law.
Zuma apparently wields power almost like a mafia boss outside the formal institutions. Ordinary ANC members, supporters and citizens are not sure who is the ANC or South African president: is it Ramaphosa or is it Zuma? This weakens the authority, credibility and legitimacy of Ramaphosa as president of the ANC and the country.
Dual centres of power cause paralysis in governance in both the ANC and the country, as people will increasingly take their instructions from Zuma, the informal president, rather than Ramaphosa, the formal, elected and sitting president. There is confusion among many ANC members who are uncertain which party line to follow: that of Ramaphosa or that of Zuma?
The recognition of an informal, unelected leader and his rules undermines the constitution, the rule of law and democratic oversight institutions, such as parliament and the judiciary.
The country is experiencing its biggest combination of crises since the creation of modern SA — health, financial and social breakdown — because of the financial crisis caused by Covid-19 and Zuma’s decade of wasted years, which saw unparalleled corruption, public service delivery failures and the destruction of democratic institutions.
The ANC’s inability to discipline Zuma now adds a political crisis to the already terrifying mix.
At this critical moment for SA, there should be only one centre of political power. The president cannot be perceived to be weak, nor can there be dual centres of decision-making, policy-formulation and leadership at the heart of the governing party. Ramaphosa should censor Zuma firmly to show that he, Ramaphosa, is in charge.
Allowing Zuma to be arrested for contempt of court for defying the Constitutional Court and the Zondo commission, rather than trying to secure political deals to enable him to escape censure, will help a great deal to restore Ramaphosa’s presidential offices in the party and Union Buildings as the real seat of power.
Allowing Zuma to be arrested will help a great deal to restore Ramaphosa’s presidential offices in the party and Union Buildings as the real seat of power.
Any perception of weaknesses in relation to rival leaders in the ANC will bolster the resolve of those in the ANC who are keen get rid of Ramaphosa as ANC leader, so they can capture the ANC to control public resources. Trying to appease Zuma threatens the stability of the ANC itself, not just the constitutional system, government and democratic institutions.
The paralysis caused by the dual centres of power within the ANC and government means the governing party and the government it oversees cannot by any stretch of the imagination deliver on policies to lift SA out of the Covid-19 health, financial and social crises. There should be only one Union Buildings, in Pretoria, the centre of formal political power, not a parallel Union Building in Nkandla, based on informal power.
William Gumede is associate professor, School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand and author of Restless Nation: Making Sense of Troubled Times (Tafelberg).
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