SA Leaderless Disorder
As the country faces myriad challenges such as power cuts, water cuts, rising unemployment, poverty and inequality, we have been waiting for several days to find out if we will get a new cabinet after the ANC elective conference in December.
The announcement that ANC Vice President Paul Mashatile has officially become a member of the National Assembly, replacing ANC MP Tshilidzi Munyai, who resigned earlier this week, set in motion the process to make Mashatile the vice president of the country.
The move comes after current Vice President David Mabuza informed President Cyril Ramaphosa of his intention to resign a few days ago.
With South Africans growing increasingly anxious about the state of the country, calls have been made for Ramaphosa to bring in those who show a new sense of purpose beyond trying to appease factions within the party, following his second term. last year.
Names proposed for possible removal include Lindiwe Sisulu and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Sisulu previously attacked the constitutional democratic system and the rule of law, while his campaign for the party’s presidency, as well as that of Dlamini-Zuma, revealed that both had lost confidence in Ramaphosa.
Concerns have also been raised about the performance of several other ministers in Ramaphosa’s Cabinet, especially as the country grapples with continued burden reduction.
With many citizens feeling the country is on a downward path, we consider the question of whether it is facing a leadership crisis and what must change if we are to see a brighter future in this week’s Friday Briefing.
Futurologist Clem Sunter examines the kind of leadership we have globally and the potential for catastrophe there, considering the Ukraine conflict, before bringing it home.
Academic professor Tinyiko Maluleke reflects on the “magic of Madiba”, writing that if Nelson Mandela were to walk the streets of Soweto today, he would find it difficult to be Mandela, given the country’s current challenges.
Maluleke lays out who he thinks should be in the cabinet, and surprise, it’s definitely not a list of politicians.
Rise Mzansi Campaign coordinator Songezo Zibi reflects on some of Maluleke’s concerns in his article, writing that to avoid the leadership crisis now prevailing at the local level, we must encourage South Africans to go to the polls and vote. . .
Finally, academic Dr. Mamphela Ramphele explains why she believes the ANC cannot provide the country with the necessary leadership.
We hope you enjoy reading.
Better,
vanessa banton
opinion editor
The ANC cannot provide the necessary leadership to turn the country around
mamphela ramphele It argues that the ANC has shown time and time again that it is incompetent, corrupt and totally immune to the pleas of citizens for basic services and decent living conditions. She argues that 2024 will provide South Africans with a wonderful opportunity to start anew.
EXTRACT | ‘The Presidents’: ANC has failed to plan next level of leadership
Since 1994, South Africa has had five presidents who have varied widely in style and character, despite all belonging to the same political party. richard calland and Mabel Sithole in his book ‘The Presidents, he examines how the five compare. The book was published last year, ahead of the ANC’s elective conference, which saw Cyril Ramaphosa win his second term. In this excerpt, the writers look at Ramaphosa’s game plan as leading and where it hasn’t worked.
