Transition proves Constitution is working
After a very long political career, I seldom hanker after past glories. Not having to attend the State of the Nation Address in Parliament, ever since I left to become a diplomat, has been more of a blessing than a matter for regret. This year was different, however.
As I sat watching the show on TV, I was struck again by the early evening beauty of Cape Town, the dignity and the commendable simplicity of the preparatory ceremony outside the National Assembly and the excited throng of MPs, officials and guests inside, thoroughly enjoying the occasion. Most looked very happy; a few ministers, about to face the chop, did not. Many of the female politicians wore beautiful dresses and hats, while a few sported what can only be described as unfortunate choices. But so what? I’m sure they all felt special and that is what counts, after all.
When I saw Dr Tshepo Motsepe, Mrs Cyril Ramaphosa, our new First Lady, I felt a feeling of relief. Only one First Lady, not the four plus we had to become used to! Highly accomplished, extraordinarily well-educated and without me sounding vulgar – very rich. Here is someone who is not on the make or the take and who will, I am sure, be an exemplary First Lady in the Zanele Mbeki mould. There are only four Ramaphosa children; what a relief after twenty or so. And they are anonymous, most unlikely to rival some of the Zuma children for rapaciousness and ghastliness.
Then I wondered where Jacob Zuma was. He is a man of physical courage and great strength of purpose displayed over many years from the Struggle times until the moment of his resignation. Somehow, his courage deserted him and he failed to appear. That was a mistake. He should have shown his undaunted spirit and faced the public of South Africa by sitting in the gallery, being deferred to as a former president, endured some booing from those MPs who do not know how to behave, and broken the ice by being there. He will have to use a less auspicious occasion, perhaps, to make a public appearance and try to move into the space of an elder-statesman so treasured by former politicians. On the other hand, he might be too busy preparing for his day or days in Court to worry too much about that.
All of these random thoughts drifted across my mind, but the major one was a feeling of pride about our Constitution. Some criticise it; some dislike it; some want to amend it; some want to abrogate it or even tear it up. Some lie to the poor millions and the landless and pretend that they are going to become landowners when land is taken from the current owners without compensation and then given away to those who want it. All these negatives exist, but the one truth is that a quarter of a century into our democratic era, the Constitution is holding.