Zuma might not have had a normal school education, but he is undoubtedly street-smart. As Nkonto We Sizwe's military strategist. he went into exile to become Chief of the ANC's Intelligence Department. In this position, he was able to gather a lot of dirt on his own people and has used this since to get those who opposed him ostracized and kicked out of power.
As a result - and in keeping with his tribal perceptions - he sees himself as the 'Big Chief' - one who cannot be held responsible for doing anything wrong.
Thus crazy stuff starts to happen, getting more and more bizarre by the day, like the Guptas landing at a military airfield for a wedding. Like Nkandla. Like ensuring a jamming device was put in Parliament to stop journalists broadcasting on their cellphones what was happening to the EFF. Like the colossally stupid blunder of firing universally-respected Finance Minister Nene and replacing him with a total Zumarite back-bencher in the form of Des van Rooyen. His own party then turned on him, along with senior SA businessmen, and forced him to eat humble pie by appointing Pravin Gordhan. This made the Big Chief very bitter indeed, and he has been looking for revenge ever since.
So 'Big Chief' Zuma has been steadily trying to undo the fabric of law that was in his way. He originally canned the Scorpions (who were independent) and replaced them with the Hawks directly under his command. And now through his pathetic lapdog Shaun Abrahams, he is trying to pin a non-existent charge on Gordhan (and also, by the by, on Trevor Manuel, who has openly spoken out against him).
But all of a sudden, 'Big Chief ' now comes face to face with something he never ever thought was possible: an even 'Bigger Chief'. Firstly, the 'Bigger Chief' of world opinion and finance, with a very possible SA decline into junk status facing us. Which will pull many, many more billions out of the South Africa economy, make borrowing more costly and hurt the poor even more.
Secondly, the 'Bigger Chief' of the SA public. People of all colours are now so gatvol of Zuma's 'Big Chief' attitude, they inflicted a humiliating defeat on the ANC in the recent elections. Tshwane, Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela are now in the hands of the Opposition, along with the W.Cape And this new 'Bigger Chief' is growing bigger every day, as the former 'Big Chief' has turned out to be a coward, running away every time SA has a crisis - for example dancing in Kenya while SA universities are burning. Now even notable members of the ANC Tripartite Alliance have turned against the 'once-Big Chief' by speaking out publicly against him.
People like: Cheryl Carolus, ANC veteran Mavuso Msimang, Ronnie Kasrils, Zwelinzima Vavi, Trevor Manuel, Justice Zak Yacoob, Kgalema Motlanthe, Anglican Bishop Joe Seoka, Jackson Mthembu, and even Cyril Ramaphosa, plus a number of others others.
The title of exactly who is now the ‘Big Chief’ is steadily changing, as a new ‘Bigger Chief’ emerges, growing stronger every day. The balance of 'Big Chief' power is shifting. It's now showdown time at the OK Corral. And Zuma's spear is getting a little rusty.