The election next Wednesday will be a defining moment in South Africa's history. The choice we make will determine whether our country becomes a successful democracy or continues the downward spiral towards a failed state. If South Africa is to become a successful democracy we must at least, in this election, keep the ANC below the two-thirds majority it needs to change the Constitution.
The ANC's internal conflict and fragmentation will escalate in the years ahead, and this will make the ruling clique in the party increasingly inclined to centralise and abuse its power. Giving this clique unfettered power to change the Constitution could terminally undermine democracy. The ANC's ruling clique will abuse its power and stop at nothing to ensure that they are shielded from corruption investigations, even if it means undermining the Constitution. The Zanufication of the ANC is underway, and we have the power to stop it.
So far, the controlling clique in the ANC has already disbanded the Scorpions, fired the former National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Vusi Pikoli, and engineered the premature release from prison of Zuma's benefactor, Schabir Shaik. All these steps have been taken to prevent the successful investigation and prosecution of corruption charges against Zuma and his cohorts. The final triumph of undue influence was the decision of the acting NDPP, Mokotedi Mpshe, to drop the charges against Zuma. Shortly thereafter Mr Blade Nzimande, secretary general of the SACP, announced that the tripartite alliance was pleased with Mr Mpshe and would probably confirm him in his position after Zuma's election as president -- thus confirming the extent of the political pressure on the NDPP.
With this background, it is clear that Zuma will stop at nothing to undermine the Constitution and the rule of law to enrich and protect himself and his cronies. Given the events of the past year, it would be grossly irresponsible for voters to entrust Zuma with a two-thirds majority, when this will predictably lead to the demise of constitutionalism in South Africa.
The ANC has already threatened to revoke property rights under the guise of expediting land reform. The ANC has already warned of its plans to undermine press freedom by instituting a media tribunal. Last week, Zuma insinuated that judges should not be independent, but accountable to government. An ANC two-thirds majority will give Zuma the power to revoke property rights, destroy press freedom and make the courts an extension of the ANC - just as the NDPP is already an extension of the ANC.
If the courts are made accountable to the ANC, Zuma will not have to worry about the DA's application to the High Court for a judicial review of the NPA's decision to withdraw the charges against him. He will be able abuse the courts in the same way that he abused the NPA to ensure that he never faces trial, or that the outcome of a trial suits his purposes.