Can SA sustain its Prague Spring?

[Syndyre]

A development that has accompanied the fall of Thabo Mbeki is that South Africans seem far more willing to hold political leaders to account than was the case just a year ago. Newspaper editorials, columnists, news bulletins, business leaders, and civil society organizations appear to have lost much of the fear that once kept them in awe of the ANC. Will this Prague spring survive or is it simply a flash in the pan until the next government takes office in 2009?

Take Business Against Crime as an example which last week accused the government of being ‘out to lunch' on the issue of crime in South Africa. Such a confrontational approach would have been quite improbable only 18 months ago when a Business Against Crime speaker told an Institute briefing that the government was doing reasonably in dealing with crime but that ordinary South Africans could do more.

Personally I think the main reason we're seeing more criticism is that the government in the form of Mbeki and his cabinet no longer has the power, Zuma does. That makes it easier for to criticise the government without offending the real power base. I doubt it'll continue for that long then, especially if they pass some of the media laws that were being tabled.

 

[icyrus]

The fall of thabo mbeki? So when was he tossed out off office then? I must have missed it.

 

[Ady]

IMO people are just getting tired of the government not doing anything about issues that effect normal citizens every day.

 

[samuelp]

It's strange to see that what is happening in SA alsohappening in France : peoples are fed up and want a change, but are afraid to change to something they don't know.

Today, lot's of Unions call for desobeissance and strikes, and the majority of peoples are non confident with the future.

 

[Dastrix]

I think the complaints we are seeing are largely political, it may be a case of being more "anti-mbeki" than anti-crime or anti-corruption. I have a feeling that this will all die down and it will be "business as usual" when Zuma takes the reins.

 

[dlk001]

I doubt it'll continue for that long then, especially if they pass some of the media laws that were being tabled.

I think there will be more division within the ANC. The common denominator between the top NEC was removed in Polokwane. I've heard that Zuma does not trust Phosa and Sexwell!

 

[Syndyre]

I think there will be more division within the ANC. The common denominator between the top NEC was removed in Polokwane. I've heard that Zuma does not trust Phosa and Sexwell!

I don't know whether division is good or bad. At least it gives us a bit more democracy as the ANC's clearly going to win no matter what so the only real democracy that can take place is within the party itself. The other side though is that the one faction might become more draconian in attempting to put the other down. LOL @ Sexwell.