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The recent shifts in the ANC have been made evident by the three-day meeting of its NEC.
The meeting did not end any differently to meetings that the ANC leadership have had in the past, but should we be surprised? In the meantime, the country and rating agencies wait to see what unfolds.
Most political analysts will point to the fact that President Jacob Zuma has been known to be a political survivor in the past. Surely everyone has a time where their genius or run of luck hit a dead-end. Who would benefit the most from President Zuma’s exit, should he resign?
This scenario would probably mean close to the end of the journey for the ‘Premier League’ and many more of the president’s close allies. This could potentially lead to ANC supporters going back ‘home’ - I am referring to members and supporters of COPE, the EFF, the UDM and other disgruntled ANC supporters. How likely is this scenario?
It is probably never going to happen for the likes of Terror Lekota and Bantu Holomisa for various reasons. There is however a possibility that Julius Malema returns ‘home’. This won’t be the first nor the last time that this idea is thrown around. Many observers predicted that Julius Malema’s EFF was a gamble and that he would return to the ANC once his former ‘father’ Jacob Zuma left office.
The way Julius flirted with the idea of going back to the ANC on Al Jazeera was deliberate.
I wrote a piece earlier this year on the possibility of Julius becoming president one day. We all know that Julius Malema does not fear many and has political wisdom beyond his years. It was yesteryear that he boasted about being instrumental in the removal of former president Thabo Mbeki.
Earlier this year he predicted that Pravin Gordhan will be charged. It is the same year that he announced that the Gupta family had captured President Zuma and thus the state. We then had the likes of Vytjie Mentor and Mcebisi Jonas coming out to confirm these allegations.
The Public Protector’s report on state capture confirmed all the allegations made by Julius. This after the president and his ally Des Van Rooyen attempted to stop its release via court. How did Malema acquire such information?
My guess is that there are individuals within the ruling party that have been passing information to Malema to air to the public. Julius Malema’s EFF made a lot of noise in parliament about Zuma having to pay back the money for Nkandla upgrades. How could Malema possibly have known that the president hadn’t in fact taken a bond as he initially led the nation to believe?
The courts ruled against the president and the cabinet in this regard. The state capture report confirmed what Malema had uttered made certain people cry and later resign. Could it be that these were strategic moves that would fast track the end game (Zuma’s removal)? The ANC executive members couldn’t express themselves freely until now; what changed?
There have been plans to weaken the president to a point that he barely has room to maneuver. A point where he would be tempted to pull the last of his cards, but that would be to his detriment. If my theory that ANC executives worked with Malema’s EFF, what has been at stake?
The EFF leadership could continue to survive without the ANC, but going back to the ANC fast-tracks their political ambitions. You can never be sure of exactly what is happening in the political arena, but I would bet that Julius Malema would go back ‘home’ after the 2019 elections.
