The current threat to South Africa's Constitutional Democracy
17 March 2016
The constitutional democracy that we South Africans established 22 years ago after so many years of division and conflict is experiencing a serious crisis.
President Zuma and his faction within the ANC are threatening the future of our democracy by seizing control of key state institutions primarily for the promotion of their own personal and political agendas. These institutions include the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Hawks and various branches of the security establishment. They are using these institutions to prosecute and intimidate opponents - outside and inside the ANC - who have had the courage to oppose and expose their unconstitutional activities.
They now clearly also wish to gain control of the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury, which they regard as some of the last obstacles in their path to the unfettered pursuit of their personal and political goals.
Under this regime the floodgates of corruption have been thrown wide open. Business people associated with the ruling group, including the Gupta family, have, according to a number of credible sources, acquired substantial influence in the financial decisions of the state - and even in the appointment of key cabinet ministers.