Now we know that Number One has no urgent vision or strategy to arrest our decline. He is either not capable of that kind of leadership, or he is too obsessed with out-foxing his opponents inside his party and with his private life and the enrichment of his clan. Or both.
I have been told by several senior ANC figures over the last few years that I should keep in mind that Zuma became president of the ANC by accident and circumstance rather than being the best man for the job.
I understand that. The dynamics inside the ANC during late 2006 and 2007 were such that the majority wanted Thabo Mbeki to be replaced as party leader and president of the country. Zuma was the only available battering ram with which Mbeki could be pushed off his throne in December 2007.
Despite the fact that the ANC became even more divided after he took over the leadership; despite the growth of a culture of corruption, tenderpreneurship and nepotism under his watch; and despite his many blunders and personal scandals he was re-elected in December 2012.
I can even understand the explanations for that: the feeling that the wrong people were on the slate opposing him; the fact that Zulu-speakers had become the centre of ANC power and ousting him would have jeopardized that; the considerations of continuity; the role of the SACP and certain Cosatu leaders; etc.
But now South Africa is in real trouble. And the leadership of the ANC knows as well as I do that Zuma is the main stumbling block in the way of successful actions and strategies to whip the country back into shape and put us back on a firm path of integrity, self-respect, hope and progress.
They also know full well that he is playing very dangerous games with the National Intelligence Agency, Crime Intelligence and the National Prosecuting Authority to make sure he has the dirt on all his opponents and to control the dirt others have on him.
They also know that whatever the spin, Zuma was at the heart of the Guptagate scandal and that his unholy relationship with this family and other wealthy individuals has not ended. They know that he, his family and his clan continue to benefit financially from his position as president of the country.
I can understand why the ANC leadership doesn’t pull a Polokwane on him now, especially with an election less than a year away.
I also understand that there are a few powerful cabinet ministers and trade union leaders whose entire careers and future wellbeing depend on their blind loyalty to Zuma.
But surely there must be enough decent democrats and patriots left in the top echelons of the ruling party who know that it is time to confront Zuma, to take some of his power away, to rescue the country from his dubious leadership?
What are they afraid of?
