Mbeki, master of his own fall from grace

He was not afraid to use the
country’s institutions against his political rivals

THABO Mbeki was the architect of his own political demise. His leadership style, as both president of the ANC and of the country, was autocratic.

Mbeki did not take kindly to being challenged, neither on social issues such as HIV-Aids, nor politically.

In a televised tirade by the late minister of police, Steve Tshwete, i n April 2001, Tshwete accused Cyril Ramaphosa, Tokyo Sexwale and Mathews Phosa of plotting to topple Mbeki at the ANC’ s 2002 national congress.

The three leaders actually became the subject of a criminal investigation, simply because they dared to challenge Mbeki for the party top spot.

Remember too the out-of- the-blue press statement issued by Jacob Zuma on April 3 2001.

Mbeki’s then deputy made it clear he had no ambitions for higher office .

“I have felt it important to state publicly that I have no intention or desire to stand for the position of the president,” Zuma said in that statement.

Referring to rumours and “unverified, so- called intelligence reports” that he would challenge Mbeki for the ANC presidency, Zuma told the world of his undying love for, and loyalty to, Mbeki.

What Zuma also unwittingly told the world was that Mbeki was someone to be feared.
The events of 2001 foreshadowed the titanic battle that was to come.

It was clear that Mbeki was not afraid to use state institutions against his political rivals.

Mbeki governed, or rather ruled, the country through fear.

He created the conditions that would enable, as one commentator put it, people who “share a collective pain” to take their revenge against the man who wronged them.

So, scores have now been settled. But at what cost to the 40-million or so South Africans who just want to live in a stable and prosperous democracy?