Concerned Citizen

[Eyenstyn]

I would like to know why are people supporting Zuma? What has he ever done for the country? Does his trail concerning corruption resonate with some of the lower income people of South Africa? Do they see him as one of them, being unfairly treated by other people in South Africa?

The majority of people in this country live in rural areas, they decide who the next president will be, i feel my vote has little significance in the greater scheme of things.

What i want to know is, how can we/i change this? I would like for my country to be a super power in the world, with advanced technology and a leader in world business.

To be honest, i think that the ANC has been using the excuse to help the poor ,to remain in power. What they are doing is promising them a better future but failing to deliver because in essence the poor people want a hand out for keeping the ANC in power.

I want an open discussion about South African politics. I want people to be more aware.

This may sound silly but do people really need governments? I dont see much transparency in the way this country is run. I think that our country is in some form of a chokehold with laws and regulations that dont assist the layman.

Thank you to those that took the time out to read my comments.

 

[Albereth]

You are correct in your concern - too many idiots with the vote.

 

[Franna]

If you think about it - would the masses still vote for Zuma if he had to join COPE.

 

[Sherbang]

I would like to know why are people supporting Zuma? What has he ever done for the country? Does his trail concerning corruption resonate with some of the lower income people of South Africa? Do they see him as one of them, being unfairly treated by other people in South Africa?

He has struggle credentials. Please do not take this as a pro-zuma post, I don't support his presidential aspirations, I'm just trying to answer Eyensteyn's question regarding why people support Zuma and what has he ever done for the country? He was an integral part of the ANC's liberation struggle.
He comes from a rural background and risked life and limb to secure a free south africa.

In 1963, he was arrested with a group of 45 recruits near Zeerust in the western Transvaal, currently part of the North West Province. Convicted of conspiring to overthrow the government, he was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, which he served on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela and other notable ANC leaders who were also imprisoned there.
After his release, he was instrumental in the re-establishment of ANC underground structures in the Natal province.
He left South Africa in 1975, based first in Swaziland and then Mozambique, and dealt with the arrival of thousands of exiles in the wake of the Soweto uprising.
He became a member of the ANC National Executive Committee in 1977. He also served as Deputy Chief Representative of the ANC in Mozambique, a post he occupied until the signing of the Nkomati Accord between the Mozambican and South African governments in 1984. After signing the Accord, he was appointed as Chief Representative of the ANC.
Zuma was forced to leave Mozambique in January 1987 after considerable pressure on the Mozambican government by the PW Botha regime. He moved to the ANC Head Office in Lusaka, Zambia, where he was appointed Head of Underground Structures and shortly thereafter Chief of the Intelligence Department.
He served on the ANC's political and military council when it was formed in the mid-1980s.

Following the end of the ban on the ANC in February 1990, he was one of the first ANC leaders to return to South Africa to begin the process of negotiations.
In 1990, he was elected Chairperson of the ANC for the Southern Natal region, and took a leading role in fighting political violence in the region between members of the ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). He was elected the Deputy Secretary General of the ANC the next year, and in January 1994 he was nominated as the ANC candidate for the Premiership of KwaZulu Natal.
The IFP, led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, put particular emphasis on Zulu pride and political power during this period. In this context, Zuma's Zulu heritage made his role especially important in the ANC's efforts to end the violence, to emphasize the political (rather than tribal) roots of the violence, and to win the support of Zulu people in the region.

Madiba himself has said "he said: "Our experience of Comrade Zuma is of a person and leader who is inclusive in his approach, a unifier and one who values reconciliation and collective leadership. We have no doubt that he will bring those well-known characteristics to his task of leading our organisation."

 

[iDenTiTy]

I would like to know why are people supporting Zuma? What has he ever done for the country? Does his trail concerning corruption resonate with some of the lower income people of South Africa? Do they see him as one of them, being unfairly treated by other people in South Africa?

The majority of people in this country live in rural areas, they decide who the next president will be, i feel my vote has little significance in the greater scheme of things.

What i want to know is, how can we/i change this? I would like for my country to be a super power in the world, with advanced technology and a leader in world business.

To be honest, i think that the ANC has been using the excuse to help the poor ,to remain in power. What they are doing is promising them a better future but failing to deliver because in essence the poor people want a hand out for keeping the ANC in power.

I want an open discussion about South African politics. I want people to be more aware.

This may sound silly but do people really need governments? I dont see much transparency in the way this country is run. I think that our country is in some form of a chokehold with laws and regulations that dont assist the layman.

Thank you to those that took the time out to read my comments.

Well, I think it's more of a cartel.

i.e. ANC + SACP + COSATU.

 

[TheHiveMind]

A broke, uneducated man of the people who came to "succeed". He represents what they all want to become. Its sad that they would not rather become educated, honest, non racist, non sexist, people who work to get where they wanna be. He plays the victim when he is the criminal, I think thats a very popular mindset among the people. He also bargains with stupid bribes. Giving kids the day off at school so they can rather have a party and sing songs about zuma, and they buy into it, because they don't think 10 seconds into the future, or about anyone else but themselves. He paints himself as a socialist which is just a bad joke really, he is the opposite. He will do/say anything for money and power.

Watch what the ANC say. They always accuse others of doing exactly what they are doing. Eg: "You are a racist" lol
Another example: "you are a counter revolutionary"
Actually, revolutions go against the government of the time, so that means by default the government in the present time is always counter revolutionary. Because THEIR revolution has come full circle already.
"We must get rid of corruption"
"We must stop crime"
"Opposition are trying to hijack democracy and bypass the laws"
"Opposition are using violence to try to bring us down"
It goes on forever actually.

 

[R13...]

If you think about it - would the masses still vote for Zuma if he had to join COPE.

no, the masses do as told by the anc.
zuma popularity is being allowed by the anc - see how they are working hard to suppress any possible popularity the caretaker prez might gain bcos of this position? the masses unfortunately are pretty well uninformed.

many people for example believe (and the anc encourages it), that if the anc were not in government then they would not receive housing, social grants, etc from whatever new government. this belief is not far fetched as most of them have vivid memories of how life was in the bad old days.

 

[Sherbang]

I think you're correct though that many poor people "see him as one of them, being unfairly treated by other people in South Africa".
Poor people haven't benefited from Mbeki's business-friendly policies, so the poor majority see Zuma as an alternative to that. He promotes himself as being for the poor, rather than being for the rich as Mbeki is perceived to have been.

 

[djiceman]

IMO - these voters are narrow minded and gullible.

South africa is a free country - so to speak.
Its been 15 years of freedom. The freedom strugglers/fighters did their job.

What we need now is a development manager, someone with an education to take south africa and develop it. Its a pity people dont see this.

Obama has a harvard education in law, the current president of india has a degree in law, the previous president of india was a rocket scientist(unclear on this one)

The potential candidate to be the president of south africa did not attend high school and has no formal education after grade 5?


It comes down the the majority of south africa not being educated in these affairs. I would assume after obama has made various strong and motivational speeches, people of south africa would take notice that our leaders only dance and sing, while the rest of the world goes forward.

 

[medicnick83]

I think it's the uneducated bunch that support him.

 

[iDenTiTy]

IMO - these voters are narrow minded and gullible.

South africa is a free country - so to speak.
Its been 15 years of freedom. The freedom strugglers/fighters did their job.

What we need now is a development manager, someone with an education to take south africa and develop it. Its a pity people dont see this.

Obama has a harvard education in law, the current president of india has a degree in law, the previous president of india was a rocket scientist(unclear on this one)

The potential candidate to be the president of south africa did not attend high school and has no formal education after grade 5?


It comes down the the majority of south africa not being educated in these affairs. I would assume after obama has made various strong and motivational speeches, people of south africa would take notice that our leaders only dance and sing, while the rest of the world goes forward.

+ 10000000000^99

Sad, really.

 

[Eyenstyn]

Thank you to everyone who has replied. I have learnt a lot from what you have said.

After reading what Joelus said, it becomes clear that Jacob Zuma has played key roles in South Africas development but does this give him ownership over the country?

I would assume after obama has made various strong and motivational speeches, people of south africa would take notice that our leaders only dance and sing, while the rest of the world goes forward.

I have seen members of parliment dance/sleep/heckle more than contribute anything usefull to a speakers argument. Which raises a few more questions, do people want to listen to an intelligent speaker? Do we actually have any intelligent speakers?

first ANC leaders to return to South Africa to begin the process of negotiations.

I am interested in this statement. Did these negotiations take place between the white government and members of the ANC, to discuss how the country should be run after the white government leaves, so that the country does not go into turmoil and white people dont have to be scared of being attacked.

Its been 15 years of freedom. The freedom strugglers/fighters did their job.

What i have noticed is that without this fighting spirit, there is no community or cultural pride of what they have achieved so far. They keep on fighting because thats what brings them closer together.

 

[iDenTiTy]

Thank you to everyone who has replied. I have learnt a lot from what you have said.

After reading what Joelus said, it becomes clear that Jacob Zuma has played key roles in South Africas development but does this give him ownership over the country?


I have seen members of parliment dance/sleep/heckle more than contribute anything usefull to a speakers argument. Which raises a few more questions, do people want to listen to an intelligent speaker? Do we actually have any intelligent speakers?


I am interested in this statement. Did these negotiations take place between the white government and members of the ANC, to discuss how the country should be run after the white government leaves, so that the country does not go into turmoil and white people dont have to be scared of being attacked.


What i have noticed is that without this fighting spirit, there is no community or cultural pride of what they have achieved so far. They keep on fighting because thats what brings them closer together.

The ANC was designed as a resistance movement.
Not a democratic party.

All they know is fighting and 'revolutionary/counter-revolutionary'...

 

[Alan]

IMO - these voters are narrow minded and gullible.

Agreed. But so are many citizens in other countries who are considerably more educated are also narrow minded and gullible

South africa is a free country - so to speak.
Its been 15 years of freedom. The freedom strugglers/fighters did their job.

Freedom only in so far as the ANC can sustain power. Soon as it's threatened democratically, freedom will soon disappear. The " freedom strugglers/fighters " have not done their job. Their job was to get the ANC into power and keep them there. So what we see today is business as usual.

What we need now is a development manager, someone with an education to take south africa and develop it. Its a pity people dont see this

Obama has a harvard education in law, the current president of india has a degree in law, the previous president of india was a rocket scientist(unclear on this one)

The potential candidate to be the president of south africa did not attend high school and has no formal education after grade 5?

Mbeki had a degree and look how much good that did him.

It comes down the the majority of south africa not being educated in these affairs. I would assume after obama has made various strong and motivational speeches, people of south africa would take notice that our leaders only dance and sing, while the rest of the world goes forward.

Obama and Zuma are both populists. They both say what they have too to get elected. Put Zuma in Obama's shoes and he too would make many "various strong and motivational speeches" while Obama would be dancing around calling for his machine gun. . Just look at Zuma's behavior in the 90's when it was still politically worth while to play up to the liberal usual idiots. A far cry from his behavior now

 

[Fudzy]

What baffles is me why do the educated and wealthy of the country sit around and ask questions and complain about Zuma yet are unable to offer a better alternative?

 

[MacNabs]

Think of it as a Zoo, if each animal in the Zoo got a vote, they will all vote for Max the Gorilla. The results, utter chaos.

But no matter who gets in, Zuma or some other animal its not really going to matter. Zuma is not much more of a threat that any of the other bl00dy monkeys, there are many other thick brick's standing in that line. Eyenstyn if you have concerns now about Zuma, where have u been for the last 10 or so years, most of us have seen the light a very long time ago.

No country in Africa will ever be a super power in the world, with advanced technology etc etc.. Its not the way africa works and definitely not the way that SA is heading, accept it.

 

[brixton tower]

ROLMAO @ all the reactionary statements on this thread. I think the only one with a vague idea of SA politics is joelus, the rest of you seem to live in South Africa but very disconnected from what's happening in the mainstream.

Here's my take on why Zuma is "popular":

1. Thabo Mbeki and his government have been bad at selling GEAR to the massive
2. Way too many shady deals involving BEE entrepreneurs getting government tenders
3. No marked improvement in SA's HDI even though the wealth seemed to have been "spread around".
4. Very little accountability from government,the list is endless from demarcation disputes to the pathetic state of the public service(remember the guy who had to take a hostage before his ID was delivered).
5. Absolutely no accountability from public servants(read above).
6. Aids denial

I could spend a day writing this list but that's what I could think off the top of my head. Can't say whether Zuma will be much better or more of the same( as I think) but many people on here don't quite get how unpopular T-Boz is with most of South Africa.

 

[brixton tower]

Think of it as a Zoo, if each animal in the Zoo got a vote, they will all vote for Max the Gorilla. The results, utter chaos.

But no matter who gets in, Zuma or some other animal its not really going to matter. Zuma is not much more of a threat that any of the other bl00dy monkeys, there are many other thick brick's standing in that line. Eyenstyn if you have concerns now about Zuma, where have u been for the last 10 or so years, most of us have seen the light a very long time ago.

No country in Africa will ever be a super power in the world, with advanced technology etc etc.. Its not the way africa works and definitely not the way that SA is heading, accept it.

What's with the racism? And why are you still mad at South Africa, you live in NZ FFS? Be happy, enjoy your environment and most importantly move on...all this bitterness will just make you a very miserable bloke in your new country.

 

[MacNabs]

What's with the racism? And why are you still mad at South Africa, you live in NZ FFS? Be happy, enjoy your environment and most importantly move on...all this bitterness will just make you a very miserable bloke in your new country.

Racism, yea pull the card. I live in a country where we have something we call freedom of speech. If i wanted to call my prime minister a monkey or a donkey or anything else, i can.

There is no racisim in my post. You making the assumptions, I like to call a spade a spade. Or a monkey a monkey.

 

[Alan]

Here's my take on why Zuma is "popular":

1. Thabo Mbeki and his government have been bad at selling GEAR to the massive
2. Way too many shady deals involving BEE entrepreneurs getting government tenders
3. No marked improvement in SA's HDI even though the wealth seemed to have been "spread around".
4. Very little accountability from government,the list is endless from demarcation disputes to the pathetic state of the public service(remember the guy who had to take a hostage before his ID was delivered).
5. Absolutely no accountability from public servants(read above).
6. Aids denial

I'm sorry who was VP of the ANC government while that was going on?

Why isn't Zille popular then?