Posted: December 30th, 2007 | By Ray Hartley | Posted in General | Tagged as , , , , , ,

The political mechanics are simple: In order to rule South Africa, Jacob Zuma must defeat the 18 charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering, tax evasion and money laundering. I’m just guessing here, but I have a hunch that something in the 84 page indictment is going to stick. The state has already put away his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, and it has been granted the right to use masses of documents seized from Zuma.
The only way Zuma is going to get out of this jam is by mounting an all-out populist assault on the Scorpions, the independent (yes, it is independent whatever the dogs of populism might howl) judiciary and Thabo Mbeki.
The scenario I envisage will play out as follows:
He will move to close down the Scorpions, leaving South Africa without its premier crime-fighting agency. He will lead the masses to the steps of the High Court in a full-frontal popular assault on the judiciary. And he will move to have Mbeki removed from office early so he can get his hands on the levers of power before this case hits the courts in August.
Already the dogs of populism, their blood of Polokwane fresh on their jaws, are barking out their conspiracy mantra.
Their bite will be worse than their bark.

Related posts:

  1. Zuma trial: A massive assault on the courts
  2. Jacob Zuma’s appointments and the rule of law
  3. Who will govern? Mbeki or Zuma?
  4. The Zumarites and the rule of law
  5. Constitutional Court rules against Zuma: Now what?

 


Comments

 

Terry

December 30, 2007 at 11:31 am

That’s my take exactly.

 

teacher

December 30, 2007 at 12:00 pm

dont think so! events will dictate the rules of the game.

how often have u heard the phrase: dont hate the player, hate the game.if Tman is a rough tackler, nothing will be wrong with zuma upping the tackles.

 

Bonginkosi

December 31, 2007 at 1:24 pm

Mr Hartley, when Jacob Selebi was NOT arrested and Vusi Pikoli effectively got fired for wanting to arrest him, that was the beginnings of interference with the rule of law. It was interference by this present administration.

If JZ starts interfering with the rule of law, let the record show where it all started.

When Brett Kebble was popped off, and the people who killed him were negotiating plea-bargains right, left and centre…..whilst we know they were good friends with one Jacob Selebi who somehow managed to avoid arrest when his good friend, the chief, interferred with the judiciary……whilst we know that one Brett Kebble was one of the people who were indirectly giving money to bankroll JZ with his fights with the Scorpions…….

Makes one think that if JZ decided to use his newly found power to avoid being convicted, the question is, what’s new?

I am deliberately painting a gloomy picture but my point is, ‘How long has this been going on?’ and we, the citizens, have been silent? Should we now be surprised when JZ wants to do the same?

 

Devine

December 31, 2007 at 8:21 pm

Hello – my previous two comments were deleted. Mr Hartley – please do not delete this – it is CENSORSHIP and I will not tolerate this.

My comment is this: Basically Mr. Hartley and his ilk should realise that they are now residing in a democracy where the majority will prevail and no amount of gnashing of teeth or doomsday predictions will change this.

So get over it!!!!!!!!

 

mikefbriggs

January 1, 2008 at 5:25 pm

Devine sounds very much like one of the “Dogs of populism”. God help us all in South Africa when this ignorant bunch of cretins take over.

 

james

January 3, 2008 at 7:43 am

The all out assult on the rule of law started when Cde Thabo Mbeki fired Vusi Pikoli. It is now obvioous that Vusi was not at that time prepared to procecute JZ because of lack of evidence.

It is also obvious that Vusi Pikoli was prepared to procecute the untouchable Selebi and probably there was enough evidence against him.

The main reason for being declared unfit to continue running the office was that he was investigating the holy ones as well. Who knows what is happening to the file Vusi had compiled, besides their laws makes it impossible for him to make a copy, even if he had one he will be arrested for keeping the assets of the NPA.

The fact is this is an obviuos manipulation. The pigs once said in an Animal Farm,”All Animals are Equal, But some Animals are more Equal than others”

 

Precious

January 15, 2008 at 10:21 am

can someone please say something about what Aggliotti is supposed to have said last friday regarding his bargain with scorpions ? Where he denies having had conspired with Selebi.



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