martysmith.org » South Africa

South Africans prepare for polls

marty — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:59:05 +0000

BBC NEWS | Africa | South Africans prepare for polls.

Hmm I wonder who is going to win…

The website seems a bit sad at the moment, but you can folow along here.

Police should shoot to kill: ANC's Mbalula

marty — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:32:43 +0000

The Times – Police should shoot to kill: Mbalula.

“We are sick and tired of crime in our communities,” said ANC head of campaigns Fikile Mbalula to wild applause. “As the ANC we say criminals must be shot in broad daylight, finish and klaar.”

We at least we know that if there is ever another South African party naming crisis, the ANC could always switch to the PPP: People’s Populist Party or maybe JJE: Judge, Jury, Executioner.

But wait it gets better!

Mbalula told ANC supporters not to be persuaded into voting for Cope and the Democratic Alliance.

He accused the two parties of misleading South Africans when they claimed that they would address social and economic problems if voted into power.

He accused DA leader Helen Zille of destroying Cape Town, saying she has turned “it into a racist capital of the world”.

“Zille is not looking after the interests of our people. She just wants your vote.”

That’s so good I think we should quote it again:

“Zille is not looking after the interests of our people. She just wants your vote.”

It won’t matter as the ANC is predicted to take 64.7% of the vote, but it is still too bad. The South African people deserve more than a one party system.

For more on why the ANC is not excited about Zille see here.

Zuma dropped charges round up

marty — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:58:13 +0000

Joy and fury at Zuma charges move – BBC NEWS.

“Thanks for believing in my innocence” – Jacob Zuma

S. Africa Prosecutors Drop Case Against Leader of Ruling Party – washingtonpost.com.

“On whether or not the charges were improper, all that is sound and strong and has not been shaken,” said Shadrack Gutto, a constitutional law professor at the University of South Africa. “Today has clarified the matter that whatever form of political interference really happened did not go to the merits of the case. I think it will be seen that political pressure has certainly made the [prosecutors] to buckle.”

Zuma: Payments from Shaik were loans

“I paid back some of the money. When I got my pension, I paid Schabir Shaik, which was from the MK Pensions Fund. It is on the record in court documents that there were loans. I paid it a long time ago; when I was still in KwaZulu-Natal [Zuma was provincial minister for finances] I repaid part of the loan. I have no hidden agenda on that,” Zuma said.

From the taxi rank in Gauteng – Sowetan:

BRIAN MOLEWA: “I am grateful that Zuma is free. He can now start on a clean slate as the new president .”

THOMAS RAHTANDO: “We all believed that he was framed as part of a political plot. There were too many court cases. We are happy that our president does not have any baggage.”

NONHLANHLA RADEBE: “We knew it was a smear campaign. Those responsible for this must be prosecuted . We want him to be our president.”

SADC Univisa

marty — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 03:51:48 +0000

One visa nine countries? Sure. Full details here.

The nine member states, which had signed the protocol on the free movement of citizens were Botswana, the DRC, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Bring me my populist Zim policy buddy!

marty — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 01:51:51 +0000

Here is an interesting story on Zuma’s two (current) wives. It would appear that he is in the process of paying lobola on what will be the third. He is divorced from Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and another wife Kate committed suicide in 2000.
The contents of Kate’s suicide note were recently in the news as part of a “smear campaign” against Zuma, read the article here and draw your own conclusions.

In case you want some more overview of Zuma and the world that my be SA with him as president: Newsweek story here, Zuma’s Ladies, who will be first lady?

“We’re very worried that this leader had relations with a woman who regarded him as a parent and, although he is very likeable, we have to ask ourselves: ‘What is happening in the ANC?’.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

I take it all back!

marty — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:42:23 +0000

In a 180 I now like Zuma. From the Cape Argus article here.

Taking a dig at Mbeki’s policy of “quiet diplomacy” towards Zimbabwe, Zuma said it was tragic that there were world leaders who witnessed repression and pretended that it was not happening or was exaggerated.

“When history eventually deals with the dictators, those who stood by and watched the deterioration of nations should bear the consequences,” Zuma said.

Carry on my fair populist! Give ‘em hell.

The Zuma Legal Troubles (pt1)

marty — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:40:05 +0000

The Beeb has a good article providing a time line of Zuma’s past legal issues, here.

June 2005
Mr Zuma’s close associate Schabir Shaik found guilty of fraud and corruption in connection with a $4.8bn arms deal.
Judge Hilary Squires said there was evidence of “a mutually beneficial symbiosis” and that payments by Shaik to Mr Zuma “can only have generated a sense of obligation in the recipient”.
(Here is info about the trial)

June 2005
Sacked by President Thabo Mbeki as South Africa’s deputy president after an outcry over Shaik’s conviction.

October 2005
Charged with corruption.
Weeks later the HIV-positive daughter of a family friend accuses him of rape.

February 2006
Mr Zuma goes on trial for rape. He denied the charges.

April 2006
Acquitted of rape.
But criticised in the press for his remarks about sex:

* that he knew she wanted to have sex with him because she was wearing a short traditional wrap-around
* that it was against his Zulu culture to turn down a woman
* and that he did not use a condom but took a shower to “protect” against HIV infection.

At the time, he was head of South Africa’s Aids council.

May 2006
ANC votes to reinstate him in his party duties.

September 2006
His corruption trial is struck from the court list when the prosecution asks for yet another delay to gather evidence.

November 2007
The court of appeal opens the way for charges to be brought again when it rules that the seizure by police of incriminating documents from his home and office was legal.

December 2007
ANC elects him as party president, defeating Mr Mbeki in a bitter vote, making him favourite to become South Africa’s next president, after elections due in 2009.

Director of public prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe announces that there is sufficient evidence to bring corruption charges. (Today’s story here)

In other news Manuel says he will not quit early.

Zuma vs. is the ANC?

marty — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:36:25 +0000

Things are heating up within the ANC, creating a sort of internal two party system within South Africa’s only viable political party. At the beginning of the ANC election conference Jacob Zuma’s supporters set the tone by heckling the opposition, here.
This story has many interesting sides. Will the ANC implode? Does Mbeki deserve to have this happen to him? Is Zuma even a viable political leader or is this just the trappings of populism with some tribal overtones? This article from US Politics Today touches on a few of these issues.
Nelson Mandela has added his thoughts on the leadership rift:

“Whatever decision you are to make at this conference, including decisions about leadership positions in the organization, let the noble history of the ANC guide you, Of course it saddens us to see and hear of the nature of the differences currently in the organization.”

Has Mbeki been good for South Africa? One has to wonder if the certain to come fallout of the ANC’s struggles will have any change on the impact of Mbeki’s relative silence towards and about Mugabe as it is/relates to Mbeki’s legacy. Two years is a long time.

And would a Zuma-in-office emulate the man who gave evidence in his rape trial and denounced gay marriage, or the man who apologised for both? We simply do not know.

Full story (from a year ago) about “some as President” thoughts.

Also in an unexpected move, Zanu-PF announced support of Robert Mugabe as their presidential candidate! Full story here.