What if Thabo Mbeki decided to safeguard the independence of the justice system and pushed forward with his original plans for the privatisation of state-owned enterprises?
His successor, Jacob Zuma leveraged the justice system and SOEs to his advantage, placing key allies in positions at the National Prosecuting Authority and SOEs before they were hollowed out through the removal of expertise and the funnelling of funds that enabled the Gupta family to loot the state coffers.
The president also had the power to appoint boards and CEOs at SOEs that were favourable.
He was only following in the footsteps of Mbeki, argues Jonny Steinberg. He writes that Mbeki created a presidency that assumed the person who occupied the Union Buildings was a competent president who would not abuse state powers, but he moulded a presidency that was fit only for Mbeki and did not consider those who would succeed him.
“Given all those caveats, it is nonetheless hard to imagine that state capture would have been possible in the absence of the framework left behind by Mbeki. He left a presidency with the unfettered power to appoint the CEOs and the boards of SOEs as well as the ministers and directors-general who might have prevented their crimes. Had he restructured these enterprises, the Guptas could not have come to control them via the presidency,” writes Steinberg.
Earlier in the week, we brought you Stephen Grootes’ view that Mbeki is getting back into the political ring and ready to affect the upcoming ANC elective conference at the end of the year, but Steinberg argues that history has been far too kind to Mbeki thus far and a more considered approach to his legacy is needed.
It’s food for thought, indeed, when we start pining for the days when Mbeki was president, at least the economy was moving in the right direction and there was a sense that we were building towards something truly great. Perhaps not?
News24’s Friday Briefing has compiled some excellent pieces on the failure of South Africa’s foreign policies in years gone by, from the crisis in Zimbabwe to letting Sudan’s Omar al Bashir slip out of the country, and now the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In all instances, SA has been remarkably bad in its stance and actions, and while we have always been a world leader for human rights, we have failed to uphold our own ideals when it comes to other nations.
It’s worth taking the time to read through each piece to understand the conundrum of our decisions.
Here’s a roundup of interesting opinions, analyses, and editorials:
SHIRLEY DE VILLIERS: How SA cheered on a murderous autocrat – Financial Mail
EDITORIAL: SA in danger of being grey-listed for terror financing – Business Day (register to read)
Wage peace not war – not only for Ukraine, but for all of us – Daily Maverick
BRICS — has South Africa caught a monster by the tail and should it let it go? – Daily Maverick
SA shoots itself in the foot for abstaining to vote on UN resolution to condemn Russia – The Citizen (for subscribers)
TOM EATON | And again the ANC sells out democracy for a blowjob in a jalopy with no brakes – Sunday Times (for subscribers)
The sorrow of war – New Frame
Image: Brookings Institute/Flickr
