South Africa’s New Hope — But Can Cyril Ramaphosa Clean the Swamp Sludge from His Boots?

by Dee McLachlan

Twenty-three years after the end of the repressive apartheid regime, South Africa (RSA), a country with enormous resources and wealth, still has poverty, inequality and corruption.

The corruption there seems to be more blatant — from the cop demanding cash to ignore a driving offence, to the HUGE pay-offs to senior public figures. By comparison, the corruption in Australia and other Western countries is far more subtle. And I would class Andrew Robb’s “consulting” deal with Landbrige as an excellent example of this. (See my article “A Perfect Example of Feasting at the Political Trough.”)

But today was a big day in RSA.

In a televised statement, the 75-year-old president of South Africa Jacob Zuma resigned. The ANC had told him: step down or face a vote of no confidence in Parliament.

The moment RSA’s deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa, was appointed head of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress on December 12, 2017, things began to change. President Jacob Zuma’s troubled leadership began to unravel, and South Africans were hoping for a swamp draining.

But first a little background.

Jacob Zuma – Man of No Character

I’ll quote The Daily Maverick, a popular resource in RSA. This from the editorial entitled “Jacob Zuma – Man of No Character”:

When I look at Canberra, and past US administrations, I feel that some of the above could apply to them, too. But let us look at who Zuma was “in bed” with.

The Gupta Family

I think the Guptas probably had the same ambitions as the Rockefeller-types in the US — and the same modus operandi. That is, sponsor politicians in government and get government to work for the corporate elite. (Could it be more blatant than Monsanto writing legislation in their favour?). From France24:

“The Gupta family saga begins in Saharanpur, a gritty, industrial town in Uttar Pradesh, India, where the patriarch, Shiv Kumar Gupta, was a trader in spices and soapstone powders. The three boys, Ajay, Atul and Rajesh… were encouraged to go out into the world. [Think Mayer Amschel R]

“Ajay, the eldest, went to Russia. Atul was dispatched to South Africa… did business in China… Arriving in Johannesburg just after the end of apartheid, Atul found a country opening up to business with none of the red tape and hurdles of his native India. In 1994, he started Sahara Computers, assembling cheap computers from imported parts for a growing market of South Africans emerging from poverty… His two brothers soon joined him in South Africa, by which time Atul had already established contacts with senior ANC officials…”

They befriended Jacob Zuma and later had the president in their pocket. Loosely speaking, they almost became an arm of government, with an empire expanding into many industries, including mining and the media.

In 2016 Atul Gupta had an estimated net worth of R10.7 billion (about A$1 billion).

Zuma, surrounded by his cronies, and the Guptas, pillaged South Africa. They seemed immune. But yesterday, (14/2/2018), police swooped on the Johannesburg home of the powerful and wealthy Gupta family, and made several arrests.

Signs of a Swamp Dweller

A summary of Zuma’s Legal Woes:

• 2005: Charged with corruption over multi-billion-dollar 1999 arms deal – charges dropped shortly before he becomes president in 2009
• 2016: Court orders he should be charged with 18 counts of corruption over the deal – he has appealed
• 2005: Charged with raping family friend – acquitted in 2006
• 2016: Court rules he breached his oath of office by using government money to upgrade private home in Nkandla – he has repaid the money
• 2017: Public protector said he should appoint judge-led inquiry into allegations he profiteered from relationship with wealthy Gupta family – he denies allegations, as have the Guptas

But now that it has all come crashing down.

Cyril Ramaposa

Ramaphosa was born in Johannesburg (7/11/1952). His father was a policeman, and he became active in the South African Students Organisation. After graduating with a degree in law, Ramaphosa continued his political activism, and helped form the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

His public stature grew, and he was elected secretary general of the ANC in 1991 — becoming one of the architects of the country’s constitutional democracy. In 1994 Ramaphosa went into business after losing to Thabo Mbeki, to become President Nelson Mandela’s deputy. But he got back into politics — becoming the Deputy President of the ANC (2012) and then Zuma’s Deputy President (May 25, 2014).

The country is presently buzzing with hope. But…

Can You Clean Swamp Sludge from Your Boots?

I.e., can you drain the swamp, when you’ve been part of the swamp?

As Herman Mashaba (executive mayor of Johannesburg), in News24, wrote (14/12/2017):

“Ramaphosa was once an admired trade unionist who led the National Union of Mineworker’s biggest strike in South Africa’s history… bringing the country’s mining industry to its knees… Ramaphosa, the vehemently anti-capitalist former trade union leader became an enthusiastic and adept capitalist.

“Whilst Ramaphosa has evaded prosecution for any illegal business dealings, he has been implicated in controversial dealings such as his chairmanship at MTN during the MTN Irancell scandal [A RSA telecom giant plotted to procure embargoed US technology products for an Iranian subsidiary to circumvent US sanctions], and his damning involvement in Lonmin during the Marikana Massacre… 34 dead miners, 78 injured miners – most of whom were shot in the back.

Note, the Marikana massacre (16/8/2012) was the single most lethal use of force by RSA security forces against civilians since 1960. To continue with France24:

“In the past three years, as deputy president, Ramaphosa has consistently referred to ‘my president’ when referring to President Zuma, who has all but stripped South Africa of its assets that aren’t bolted down and immovable.

“Ramaphosa publicly supported ‘his’ president until it became apparent that his president had backed his former wife in the leadership race, instead of him. He has since conveniently abandoned his sycophantic demeanour towards the president, and switched to dishing up the dirt on him instead.”

I wonder if Mashaba still stands by what he wrote in December. Much has happened in the last 30 days, as Ramaphosa tries to clear the swamp of the Gupta dwellers. Mashaba ended his December article with:

“Perhaps Zuma is not the only captured individual in the ANC. Perhaps Ramaphosa’s business and political backers have been patient, perhaps they too are waiting for their pay day.”

Let us hope that Ramaphosa will be an example to follow.

Capturing Politicians

The word “captured” describes it perfectly.

Many of our politicians get captured by the “system”, and seem to do the bidding of their masters (whoever they may be). I suppose everyone wants their pay day.

What is the lesson here for us in Australia? That corrupt corporate and individuals individuals can be, and should be arrested.

“President Zuma, who has all but stripped South Africa of its assets that aren’t bolted down and immovable.” Has that not happened here in Australia?