One of the most fascinating pieces of history to many South Africans as well as non-South Africans is that of its second President after apartheid, Thabo Mbeki. When Mbeki became president in 1999, it was exciting times. It was 'after Mandela', and expectations was very high. Mbeki was an impressive man, often quoting Dickens and other well-known English authors. But there were early warning signs one has to say. Mbeki was one of the ANC leaders who refused to accept the findings of the Truth Commission, just because it found that the ANC committed gross violations of Human Rights. Many leaders of the ANC, with one notable exception being Nelson Mandela, refused to accept that the ANC' anti-apartheid campaign resulted in the death of many innocent civilians.
But people were confident, and Mbeki, to his credit, was a visionary man. He often spoke of the African Renaissance. He was key in the development of NEPAD, an organisation with the aim of, amongst other things, promoting better governance in Africa. The Organisation of African Unity was replaced in 2002, by the African Union, modelled of course, on the European Union to a lesser degree. There were now mechanisms in place to hold African leaders accountable and to take action. But when Robert Mugabe ripped the elections and ordered the deaths of thousands of people in Zimbabwe, Mbeki’s regime did nothing. President Mbeki was contradicting himself in many ways.
The biggest shock under the presidency of Thabo Mbeki was the HIV/AIDS policy of the country. While treatment was available, and government had the funds available, it was denied to the people. The president, together with the then minister of health, dr. Manto Tsabalala Msimang, was part of a group of cowboy scientists that denied the connection between the HIV virus and the development of AIDS in the body. Mr Mbeki’s view was that a virus does not cause a syndrome. The minister of health’s solution was to promote the benefits of olive oil, garlic and beetroot, amongst other things, as a cure for AIDS.
While the upliftment of the poor was important under Mbeki’s two terms, the way in which this must be achieved was different to what it was before or after. Mr Mbeki often polarised South Africa, taking every opportunity to turn every issue into a race issue. South Africa consisted of 2 nations according to Mbeki, a rich white nation and a poor black nation. The end of the issue was of course that there was no real transformation of society under Mbeki. The same institutions did the same things. White faces were replaced by blacks. But South Africa stagnated. It was a polarised country.
Politics is not forgiving. In the end Mbeki was ousted as president. He was sacked by the ANC. It was thought that Mbeki was part of a campaign against Zuma that resulted in Zuma’s fraud trail and Mbeki was not forgiven for this. When Zuma campaigned, Mbeki had no part in it as ex-presidents usually do. Mbeki was at the time an isolated man. Forgotten. And Zuma, even though he has become known as a president who doesn’t take a firm stand, is a leader who tries to reconcile South Africans.
When Schabir Shaik, the businessman with whom a judge claimed Zuma had a corrupt relationship, was sentenced to 15 years in jail, he received basically a pardon for the jail sentence, on the basis of his ill health. Yet, Shabir Shaik is often seen driving around in his luxury cars.
There is no justice in the world. Sick prisoners are dying in jail. Healthy criminals are exempted from jail.
(609 Words)
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