South Africa: Zuma delivers “no hope” State of the Nation
Posted on February 12, 2016 by Thabo Leshilo
President Jacob Zuma arrives at Parliament to deliver his 2016 State
of the Nation address. Credit: GCIS.
President Jacob Zuma arrives at Parliament to deliver his 2016 State
of the Nation address. Credit: GCIS.
South African President Jacob Zuma has delivered his annual State of
the Nation address in the country’s parliament. After more than an
hour of disruptions and interruptions, mostly by members of the
opposition Economic Freedom Fighters, Zuma finally got down to
business. Or did he?
The Conversation Africa’s Politics and Society editor Thabo Leshilo
and Voice of Wits presenter Tsholofelo Semenya put some questions to
Professor Susan Booysen. You can listen to the audio or read the
transcript below.
(Download)
Taking off your professional hat for a moment, what did you make of
Zuma’s speech as a citizen?
The frustration index was very high. South Africa is facing a massive
crisis in so many respects, and Zuma didn’t quite rise up to the
occasion. But then the entertainment index was very high for all South
Africans, whether they are interested in parliament and politics or
not.
The Economic Freedom Fighters in some ways lived up to expectations
and provided the entertainment.
What did you think of the substance of Zuma’s speech?
There was really no meat around the bone. It felt like he made many
old announcements, talking about things we already know about. And MPs
applauded around issues of history – things South Africans have known
already for a year or two. It was canned applause.
There was no urgency, no enthusiasm. If things are going to be done
differently (in future), the speech didn’t put that across. Zuma
repeatedly said “we must look at it” and “we must do”, or “there is a
task team, there is a commission”. We are beyond that time of
deliberation. We need action.
It’s been the standard fallback of the Zuma years – “we’re busy” – but
the action is not there.
I was monitoring the rand/dollar exchange rate during the course of
the speech. It was R15.69 to the dollar when he started. By the time
he finished it was R15.84. That’s not huge, but it almost reflects the
speech. There wasn’t wild enthusiasm, a sense that we’re getting the
answers we’ve waited for – or that things are going to turn around.
The #FeesMustFall movement and student protests were mentioned just
once in the speech, and only briefly. This angered people on Twitter,
with some saying the protests had brought government to its knees and
Zuma barely mentioned them. What did you think?
To be frank, I was shocked at the lack of recognition for that huge
and ongoing moment. It forced the government to implement existing
policy and to somewhat change policy. It had deeper repercussions; (it
opened up issues of) deeper transformation and the anger of young
people.
I don’t think government was quite brought to its knees, but its knees
were bending. It really is an ongoing moment.
Local government elections are coming up later this year. How does the
governing African National Congress (ANC) look in those polls,
considering how important they are?
The ANC has never in its 22 years in power looked as weak as it does
at the moment. It looks weak as a governing party. It is riven by
factions. There are wars at local level. There is such discontent in
the ANC.
These elections will be about building hope, and about making sure
that citizens and voters still feel the ANC can bring them that hope
as the liberation party.
This was not a moment of generating hope.
Thabo Leshilo is the Editor of The Conversation.
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the
original article.The Conversation
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12 thoughts on “South Africa: Zuma delivers “no hope” State of the Nation”
Adrian says:
February 12, 2016 at 3:23 pm
Black South Africa is just falling back into the mud huts and
Starvation that the White Man pulled them out of, not so long ago.
nik nikolov says:
February 12, 2016 at 4:01 pm
@adrian- whites like you never deserved Africa.
Greetings from Bulgaria
nik nikolov says:
February 12, 2016 at 4:08 pm
african culture and style, african ways are way ahead and beyond
the future of the world. E.g. internet circles are like tribes, e.g.
signs and communication. I wish i were a black man
nik nikolov says:
February 12, 2016 at 4:12 pm
@adrian- above all recognise this, that this space this reality
this world is a gift to all, all you came from zero babies and life
gracecoulsy gave us the chance to be able to perceive something. God
exists. Africans are spiritual, real.
Johann says:
February 12, 2016 at 5:55 pm
@nikolov
Your a funny guy!
“Internet circles are like tribes”
Yeeeaaahhhh, sure they are buddy, put down the meds and maybe just
rest for a bit ok?
Baratta says:
February 12, 2016 at 5:57 pm
Well I think when the ANC got rid of Thabo whose feet were not on
the ground, and put Zuma in, whose feet were mired in the ground, they
took a step back from the promises of Mandela, who pioneered the move
from the Kraal to a democratic parliament. It is simply not a surprise
when the chickens come home to roost. South Africa is slowly sliding
back in time, despite fancy titles, medals, empty promises, and pie in
the sky predictions. Mandela’s dreams are shattered by the corruption
and greed of the ANC.
Jan Swanepoel says:
February 12, 2016 at 7:15 pm
Leave my president alone. He screws his five wiwes, 10
girlfriends, some of his cousins, the ANC, the opposition, and the
whole South Africa. Viva Zuma Viva
Laurence says:
February 12, 2016 at 11:04 pm
South African is yet another example – – like Zimbabwe — of what
happens when White males are eliminated from a country, and
incompetent Blacks take over.
I bet many Blacks in SA are longing for former White rule – at
least they were safer, and the country was prosperous. Same for
Zimbabwe.
Coenraad says:
February 13, 2016 at 5:41 am
@nik nikolov We now realize that we did not deserve Africa
rjacchina says:
February 13, 2016 at 6:52 am
‘Actions speak loader than words’, but when those words are
discribed by outside sources with words like: ”entertainment”- i don’t
believe we can expect alot of action.
Barry Patel says:
February 13, 2016 at 9:17 pm
South Africa has structural issues
1. High unemployment and the resulting increase in crime because
all manufacturing has been outsourced to China, resulting in the
closure of hundreds of factories around the country.
2. Uncontrolled borders and immigration, an influx of millions of
unskilled migrants from neighbouring territories has placed a large
burden on limited resources. The country cannot look after it’s own
citizens so migrants are making the situation worse. Additionally the
Nigerians are heavily involved in crime, drug trafficking and
prostitution.
3. Bribery and corruption at all levels of government and industry.
4. Low productivity due to people promoted to high positions but
are not capable or skilled in filling these positions, training and
mentoring should have been the first steps.
5. a new Black elite that is unfairly exploiting the country’s
wealth at the expense of the masses, sadly the masses are being
short-changed
6. Poverty and hunger for the majority of the people
7. South Africa is the biggest trading partner of China in Africa,
the Chinese are exploiting the mineral wealth and resources of South
Africa at unprecedented levels, China has become the new colonial
power in South Africa and Africa,
8. Reverse discrimination.
9. Breakdown of Law and Order
10. Heavy press censorship, infringing on freedom of the press and speech
11. a One party state, the ANC is the leading political party and
the government and is not friendly to opposition
12. Most of the original principles of the ANC party during the
freedom struggle have been forgotten, the white oppressor has been
replaced by the
black oppressor, sadly blacks oppressing blacks and others by
inequality, unfairness and financial hardships.
13. The use of revolutionary style politics is not practical after
the revolution is over, policies that develop the country and it’s
people is what is
required.
14. State Coffers are used as personal purses by most government
officials and politicians in high places, a classic example is the
deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, he has now become of of the
wealthiest people in Africa, having helped himself to Gold Mines to
the tune of over a billion US dollars,
this is a disgrace and sad because millions of people around the
country have not enjoyed the wealth of the country, for example,
school children with textbooks, schools with only one toilet, there
are hardly any libraries around the country, a limited amount of
universities, a lack of medical supplies and equipment in hospitals,
people living in corrugated houses, yet Cyril Ramaphosa and others
continue enriching themselves at the expense of the poor.
Cry the Beloved Country.
Harry says:
February 14, 2016 at 12:54 am
It takes a special kind of skill to destroy the richest country in
Africa, but I’m confident Zuma has that skill. Mandela would weep.
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