On 10/28/06, Rui Correia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Yoshie Furuhashi wrote:
COSATU no longer pushing for Jacob Zuma?
They would have pushed for him as the next president, but COSATU as one of
the pillars (the masses) of the tri-partite alliance (ANC, Communist Party
and COSATU) If COSATU goes its own way, they are more likely to push for one
of their own, seeing that the those who have crossed the line into the
'capitalist' camp are seen to have sold out the workers' aspirations.
For a real split between the two sides all that is needed is for the
government to get bold with privatisation of state assets, utilities,
services etc. COSATU knows it will cause job cuts and services will become
more expensive.
As for Zuma's continued mass support and popularity, unfortunately, that is
one of the potential dangers to South Africa's nascent democracy. The
personality cult is still very strong, such that those who became heroes at
some point, remain heroes no matter how evil/ crooked/ corrupt/ unethical
they become. It is so bad that even those who have to punish/ discipline/
correct/ them, do so ever so lightly not to upset the masses of supporters.
We saw this years back with a pastor, Allan Boesak, who siphoned
Scandinavian charity money, then Tony Yengeni who accepted a luxury vehicle
and money to fidget the outcome of a arms tender contract, now Zuma. Boesak
on his release from jail was received by a delegation of VIPs, including
cabinet ministers!!!!!!
Thanks for your elaboration. I've been following SA a little more
closely since Michael A. Lebowitz said that the concept of
"Bonapartism" has been misused to defend just about any status quo (or
things of that nature -- correct me, Michael, if you didn't say that!)
and SA is a good example of that.
If COSATU goes its own way, it will be a dramatic new development, but
I wonder how likely it is, for Zuma, due to his mass support and
popularity you mention, is likely to keep COSATU in rather than
alienate it.
--
Yoshie
<http://montages.blogspot.com/>
<http://mrzine.org>
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