Mbeki asked to step down

[Zenbaas]

I think I see what the ANC are trying to do?

Basically the popularity of this organisation has gone south over the last while, mostly from heckling within the organisation itself and a multitude of other issues, ranging from failed policies in Zimbabwe, AIDS, Alienation of Minority Groups, Home Affairs and a list that can fill a page.

With the 2009 Election approaching they need to change this view very quickly and the only way they might be able to achieve this is through some serious arse kissing and Mbeki the quiet man is he is isn't too great on the PR front, so he has to go.
People like Zuma who I am amazed has come as far as he has btw, has the charisma to turn the crowd and here I mean any crowd be they minority or otherwise. So I am expecting a major PR drive full of promises to the whole South Africa right up until the elections. The PR drive will be of such a nature even some of the hard arsed minority groups will be singing Zuma's praise at the end of it.
Just wait and see - this is all about acquiring more than 66.6% of the votes next year so that Zuma et al can start their new agenda whatever that is, positive or negative. Just cannot read this man, which is of great concern to me and I reckon many people in this country feel the same way - hence I think the huge PR drive I think the ANC have got in store for us.

Put it to you this way. If I was in politics this is what I would be doing. Making amends with your voters.
Just hope Mr Zuma if he become President turns out to prove the media and all the critics wrong and I say this because I love my country and am concerned about it's future.

I think you are right on most points there. There will be huge promises before the elections with most of the inadequacies blamed on the "previous" regime(Mbeki etc.). Zuma will promise the world to the voters to get the majority vote he needs but in all likelihood deliver nothing. Like i said before, squeezing one zit will not cure your acne, and i hope at least some of the voters realize this! Although the chances of people waking up and smelling the **** going on is unlikely.

 

[boramk]

I would hardly say Zuma has charisma, his just a dancing monkey infront of the stands, look at all his speeches! And the mindless people of SA love that!

 

[Zenbaas]

I would hardly say Zuma has charisma, his just a dancing monkey infront of the stands, look at all his speeches! And the mindless people of SA love that!

But like you said yourself, they love it! It's sad that it feels like we are evolving backwards

 

[Boodles]

So...how long does it take to acquire a passport if I apply now?

South African ones take much longer than others. No harm in getting one - better to have it than not to have it.

 

[kilps]

Zuma wants to be in power, I am sure we can see that in the coming days that he will appoint himself as president of South Africa.

Zuma cannot become president until after an election - when the president steps down:
1. The Vice President becomes president - but she is also resigning
2. Cabinet selects a new president - pretty likely
3. The speaker of the National Assembly becomes president until the National Assembly selects a new president from its members

The thing is - Jacob Zuma is not a member of the National Assembly ... and he cannot become one because he is not on his party lists for parliament ... and a party can only change those lists once a year - too late for this year... http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/?p=668 is a good read

The really funny part is that this story didn't make the Front page on any of the BIG news corps such as CNN BBC etc...

It was the lead story on news.bbc.co.uk yesterday

The best thing would be for an early election - firstly the new president would then have more legitimacy and the ANC might not do too well then and http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/article.aspx?ID=BD4A846049 is also an interesting theory

 

[Albereth]

Does anyone have a clue about how many members the ANC has? I'm not talking about voters, I mean people who pay their money to be members.

Because the way I see it is that democracy is being subverted here. We have a party running the show, not parliament. And that party does not represent the majority of people in this country.

To take blunomore's comment about the sudden number of politcal experts - who the heck is this Steve Grootus turkey on 702 - besides having a grumble about black journalists he seems to think that Polokwane was democratic etc etc. Who cares. What politcal parties decide to do has absolutley no relevance to democractic processes in other institutions. The people in parliament were elected by the population, not by the ANC party - for the party to now decide to recall people is unconsitutional and undemocratic.

 

[CrazyMadMan]

Albereth you are correct, whenever someone speaks of parliament I think ANC, we are being run by the 500 pound gorilla. Someone spoke of how long it takes to get a passport, it took me six working days to get my European passport yet it will take me upwards of three months for my South African one. Funny thing is it took the ANC less than a weekend to seriously rock the boat, less than a weekend to go from, "We want the president to step down," to "Oh look it is happening."

It is very clear to me that where there’s a will there’s is a way, it worries me where their will is. As it seems very little would get in its way.

 

[capetownguy]

Im def not a Zuma support, and agree he is a bit of a dancing monkey BUT
Mbeki has been in denial about South Africa's biggest issues i.e. crime and HIV/Aids. I'm not saying the replacement will be better but should we be holding onto a distant president in denial about our two biggest issues?

Recalling Mbeki has no effect on who will win the next elections, all it does is put the DA in a better position in the Western Cape.

Coming from deny deny deny, I'm not going to rule out the possiblity that Zuma would be better as a president if the violent "revolutionary and uneducated types" can be kept under control.I honestly can't care if he dances around. He has already admitted to our serous crime problem, which is already one better than Mbeki.

 

[StrongTurd]

There's one thing that's bound to change very quickly with Zuma at the helm: SA's relationship with Mugabe and Zanu-PF. If you consider that Mbeki was/is so far up Mugabe's ass that he could basically be considered Zimbabwe's foreign minister and that Zuma is decidedly hostile towards Mugabe, then the dynamics of what is happening in Zimbabwe is bound to change radically. I would not be surprised if Tswangirai's power will increase rapidly in the near future while Mugabe will have lost his best (only?) ally.

 

[Eh!]

Someone long ago once said "people deserve the consequences for the leaders they elected". Now this was in reference to WW2 dictators and post war oppresion regimes. Now, what percentage of the Zimbabwe population voted for Mooga-gay? I don't know but a sizable one and in South Africa judging from the level of support for JZ I'd say about the same.

I work for one of the top 4 firms in SA and we have alot of JZ supporters. I chat up a lot of these guys, small talks ect and then I drop the bomb and ask why they supported Zuma just to see things from their perspective. Their responses are usually the same i.e. he's charmatic (yeah right, so are alot of mass murderers), he refreshing and new (yeah, that's a feat to consider for leadership). Keep in mind that these black South Africans I work with are probable the smartest in SA.

 

[Kokop]

There's one thing that's bound to change very quickly with Zuma at the helm: SA's relationship with Mugabe and Zanu-PF. If you consider that Mbeki was/is so far up Mugabe's ass that he could basically be considered Zimbabwe's foreign minister and that Zuma is decidedly hostile towards Mugabe, then the dynamics of what is happening in Zimbabwe is bound to change radically. I would not be surprised if Tswangirai's power will increase rapidly in the near future while Mugabe will have lost his best (only?) ally.

Good point

Kilps, great article if its true http://www.businessday.co.za/article...?ID=BD4A846049

I think I too have been focussing on all the negatives of this decision.

Maybe time to sit back and look for any potential silver linings in this.

When is Thabo going to address the nations?

 

[boramk]

EU says Mbeki is 'outstanding'

Brussels - After South African President Thabo Mbeki on Saturday agreed to step down, the European Union praised the leader as "an outstanding statesman."

EU chief diplomat Javier Solana in a statement noted Mbeki's work with other African nations, including Congo, Burundi and Zimbabwe, where he brokered a power-sharing deal just days ago.

"Once again South Africa's democracy has proved its high degree of maturity," Solana said.

South Africa was thrown into turmoil on Saturday after Mbeki caved into pressure from the governing African National Congress (ANC) to resign his office.

The ANC had said earlier it was recalling Mbeki as president in a bid to heal divisions in the party following a court finding of political interference in the corruption case of Mbeki's rival, ANC leader Jacob Zuma. - Sapa-dpa

I damn well agree

 

[BBSA]

Coming from deny deny deny, I'm not going to rule out the possiblity that Zuma would be better as a president if the violent "revolutionary and uneducated types" can be kept under control.I honestly can't care if he dances around. He has already admitted to our serous crime problem, which is already one better than Mbeki.

You forget that Zuma himself is uneducated.

 

[Kokop]

You forget that Zuma himself is uneducated.

So am I. Does that make me stupid?

 

[nivek]

Zuma is far from stupid, its just a shame about the people he surrounds himself with

 

[BBSA]

So am I. Does that make me stupid?

Do you also want to be president?

 

[placebo]

I would not have a problem with Zuma being President as Zuma is not a total fool and would surround himself with the finest advisers.My problem is with Malema who due to his total support for Zuma being able to influence Zuma to a great degree.

 

[Frankie]

You forget that Zuma himself is uneducated.

The lack of education may not be a sign that he's stupid, but of more concern is the total lack of moral fibre - he just doesn't have a moral compass.

 

[CTSA]

As a white South African, I don't want to leave my country, and in any case Africa. So if things really get tough and circumstances push us to start looking outside our borders, the first country in my mind is Zimbabwe. Yes the country is troubled by ill politics and a failing economy, but if the MDC manages to get out of the cabinet deadlock, I believe Zimbabwe has great potential. It's a beautiful country, plenty of resources, educated masses, and friendly people. It could become the next dominant power in Southern Africa if South Africa fails to hold on.

 

[boramk]

As a white South African, I don't want to leave my country, and in any case Africa. So if things really get tough and circumstances push us to start looking outside our borders, the first country in my mind is Zimbabwe. Yes the country is troubled by ill politics and a failing economy, but if the MDC manages to get out of the cabinet deadlock, I believe Zimbabwe has great potential. It's a beautiful country, plenty of resources, educated masses, and friendly people. It could become the next dominant power in Southern Africa if South Africa fails to hold on.

That title already goes to Botswana