South Africa: More than a Finance Minister

The institutional integrity of South Africa is being tested, and the aggressor, in my view, may have grossly miscalculated the strong precedent which laid the ground for the ANC and similarly South Africa. Today, many of those that stand against Zuma are ANC or some vestige of it, and they still register a belief in what this organisation stands for, if not its leadership. The municipal elections reminded us that democracy does work, but it also guided us that we need much more of it – South Africa’s own constitution promotes it. I constantly have to remind foreign pundits that South Africa is not like the rest of Africa – it differentiates itself through the strength of its institutions, built on a commitment that never again would a nation allow its people to experience such hardships. It makes me, a Zimbabwean, envious, as our institutions have been disassembled; only rubble remains – truthfully they were never that strong in the first place. Continuity was not paramount to the leadership’s overall agenda, neither was it an imperative for a population euphoric with independence and the idea of freedom. We failed to recognize the long term criteria of ensuring those same freedoms persist; now we Zimbabweans might just be fighting for nothing as corruption has infected our culture and is now an institution upon itself. South Africa can still avert the nearing precipice, as beyond it, I must warn, is a realm of nothingness and powerlessness the commonality never wants to experience. Zuma must be encouraged to abort his present course of action. South Africans are the only ones with the power to do so.

Unlike those before for him – Zuma has chosen to express his anti-western ideology in the shadows. He tows the line by day and schemes by night. He realises that circumventing the constitution, to secure his own future vision of South Africa, is impossible. ‘State Capture’ is not a new theme, it's just more visible – it is the constitution that has allowed for that, the Mandoselas and the Gordhans of South Africa honourably carry it on their shoulders. Seemingly, Nkandla and December 10 have taught Zuma nothing, or more, they are continued examples of a distinctive statement of intent, as his network of patronage continues to promote, and at times, enforce this absolute-like subversive agenda. Individuals, who themselves believe that South Africa is only theirs; it does not belong to the poor who yearn for housing, jobs, and basic services, or the youth who demand affordable education. It belongs to ‘we’ who gave you your freedom…the freedom fighters. His syndicate has repeatedly shown blatant disregard for the standards of economic globalisation upon which South Africa has thrived over the years. Credit ratings are of little importance in their view, merely another tool of western imperialism, they mean nothing to the leadership…if only they knew how much harder their jobs are going to become without an ‘investment grade’, if only they knew how the poor will punished for their misdirection. His actions speak to a notion of refuting one’s oath of office, code of conduct, and accountability to the people his excellency represents; all for the cause of self-interest, personal enrichment, and ultimately corruptive power. If they fail to cease and desist then South Africa’s kin shall find out again, what the long road to freedom feels like.

Pravin Gordhan now represents more than a sovereign rating or a balanced budget, he stands for continuity in a democratic ideology and the institutions built upon it. Trying to force him out in this manner will put South Africa on a path of political decomposition, and economic disinvestment. The honourable will be compromised, the hopeful will be demoralised, and money that drives the economy will act with greater hesitation. From here, the forest thickens. It is easier to break a country then it is to build one – uniform with most things that are man-made.