Mbeki's departure, as seen from Zimbabwe

The Internet is an amazing thing, and very often I find myself stumbling over things, rather than actually finding things that I set about searching for in the first place.

While you were asleep, or away, or at work, South Africa got itself a new President. A person described on the TV news as someone who doesn't wish to have power. And all of a sudden we have a new cabinet too - like someone went and bought it at Ikea.

Thankfully, through all of this, the markets in South Africa appear to have eased (slightly) and the exchange rate is slowly returning to something a little short of lunacy.

While some defend Thabo, and decry Zuma, I found an article posted a few days in the Harare Tribune. Interesting to see the view point of a Zimbabwean, as Thabo waves farewell to Parliament - seemingly moving to the Supreme Counrt to fight whoever it is he next needs to fight.

Dr Paul Mutuzu is the CEO of the National Vision Institute: An independent economic and political strategy think tank focusing on Zimbabwe and the Southern Africa Region and has some interesting things to say about Thabo Mbeki's departure as President.

When the article starts:

With a legacy of a presidency replete with episodes of controversy, sometimes utter buffoonery and lunacy, Thabo Mbeki’s collapse is well merited

you know you are in for a bumpy ride!

Lazy day in SA

What a week!
Thank goodness there is a Public Holiday in South Africa today (Wednesday) that we can all just lie in bed late and take a breather from the events of the last few days.

Just what Public Holiday is it though? I have no idea. I may need to Google that one to find out. It seems like Public Holidays in South Africa are only used to demarcate your next leave application, rather than being of any particular significance…

So – so far this week we have ousted a President and found ourselves a new mascot.

Events appear to be moving at quite a rate, and I don’t fully understand what is happening… What I do know is that Thabo is no longer President, and the new fellow has a name I couldn’t even begin to try to spell, so let’s just say, we have a new President.

It also appears that 14 cabinet ministers have resigned in support. I think it is 14 – I lost count at 10 (ran out of fingers). The strange thing is that some of those ministers are saying they are resigning in support of ex-President Mbeki. But they will go back into their posts if asked to by the new President. That doesn’t sound very supportive to me – but then I am not a politician – what the heck do I know?

Our finance minister – having previously said he would stay on regardless, was one of those that did resign (but will return if asked). Unfortunately, the markets didn’t hear the last part and only heard “I resign.” As a result they have all tumbled like a cheap house of cards, and the exchange rate is now R15,17 to the Pound. So our Christmas trip to London just got more expensive. Thanks Trev!


But talking of Leopards changing their spots – South Africa found itself a new leopard this week in the form of Zakumi, the mascot for the 2010 Football World Cup. Demonstrating some rather fabulous soccer skills (can we use the mascot in the national team?) Zakumi was unveiled to the media. Young, hip and a leopard with attitude” – though it remains to be seen exactly what attitude…. Nonetheless, sporting a fantastic afro-type hairstyle, Zakumi is here….

Let’s hope he isn’t ousted before his term of office is up in 2010!

Personal thought on political situation in South Africa

A friend from overseas asked me this week what I thought about the ruling concerning Jacob Zuma, and I guess the next question that follows this weekend is what I feel with regard Thabo Mbeki and his resignation.

I am no political commentator, and I know well enough that what I think one thing is going to happen in a political arena, another generally does!

But the transition of power from Mbeki to Zuma was always going to happen, and the two questions really were when and how. These are now answered, though the “how” remains a little clouded in mystery.

With regard the view of myself and people around me, I think we generally feel that this was going to happen, that perhaps a new energy will be injected into the government, and yet at the same time, perhaps a new direction – and it is perhaps the direction more than anything that is a concern.

It was very worrying to me to see the mass action that was threatened prior to the announcement of the ruling in the Zuma case. I certainly got the feeling that, regardless of where guilt lay or didn’t lie, the country got a better result through the case being dismissed – as for it to have gone ahead would have triggered mass action and public demonstrations that have long not been seen here. Possibly with violent outcomes.

And one has to wonder if that will be a theme going into a new era in South Africa?
President Mbeki has just made a speech on national TV, lauding the achievements of successive governments he has been part of since 1994, and saying how these governments have always upheld and defended the judiciary in the country. Whether this is true or not might only be revealed in any subsequent judicial findings – but more to the point is whether this defence of the judiciary will continue in the future. Certainly there were some worrying signs in the past few weeks.

South Africa continues to be a strong economic force in Africa and within the global market, and this must continue in the future. For the sake of the country and the future of its people, there surely can only be one direction that the government can choose.

Let’s hope that is the direction chosen.