When the African National Congress Youth League held its national conference in Bloemfontein early this year, the event disintegrated into a mess of name-calling, procedural delays and naked bums, and had to be postponed.
When the league met again some weeks later at Nasrec in Johannesburg to wrap up the conference proceedings, it seemed its leaders had taken criticism over the Bloemfontein debacle to heart.
The Jo’burg leg was mostly well organised, disciplined and running on time, and there was a sense of hope and purpose among the hundreds of young people from all over the country who had come together to discuss their political future, and their country’s.
Unfortunately much of the dignity of that weekend seems to have gone out the window in recent months, with especially ANCYL leader Julius Malema’s ill-advised comments splashed all over newspaper front pages.
Even the mighty parent body has emitted a few grumbles and moans about the ANCYL having to know its place.
So, when AfriForum Youth this week delivered a copy of the book Politics for Dummies to the ANCYL in Johannesburg, it was a publicity stunt with real meaning. The league has to learn that its abrasive, confrontational style of pushing itself into public discourse is not winning it any admirers, and perhaps going back to the basics of good politicking would be an eye-opener for its leaders.
Proof of this was league spokesperson Floyd Shivambu’s bumbling attempt to dismiss the gift, even claiming the league had not received it — despite press photographs showing the book on a desk in the league HQ.
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Team South Africa
The country’s Paralympians brought some much-need national cheer to South Africa after the dismal showing of the Olympic athletes, collecting a haul of 30 medals, including 21 golds. Natalie du Toit was also honoured with the Whang Youn Dai achievement award for best representing the Paralympic spirit. |
 Floyd Shivambu
The ANC Youth League was in a huff this week after AfriForum Youth delivered a copy of the book Politics for Dummies to league HQ in Jo’burg. Shivambu, the youth league spokesperson, first denied receiving the book — not true — and then resorted to calling AfriForum Youth a “group of racists”. It’s clear why the book will prove useful to the league. |
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September 11 to 17
1. Round one to Zuma
The Scorpions’ decision to prosecute African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma on fraud and corruption charges was not legal, Judge Chris Nicholson found in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday.
2. What if Zuma wins in court?
Much has been made in recent months of what will happen if the criminal trial of Jacob Zuma goes ahead, or if it is forestalled by a political deal that buys “stability” at the price of justice.
3. What Zim’s new govt will look like
Zimbabwe’s new government will have six executive posts headed by President Robert Mugabe and prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who will each have two deputies, under the deal signed on Monday.
4. Zuma: I am a wounded warrior
African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma said on Friday that the court ruling in his favour was a victory for the justice system but had left him a “wounded warrior”.
5. Mugabe poised to sign political death warrant
However you look at it, Robert Mugabe is getting away with murder. The power-sharing deal he is expected to sign on Monday with his arch-rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, will protect Zimbabwe’s president and his cohorts from prosecution for their bloody campaign of killings and terror against opposition supporters and their leaders.
6. Mbeki fights for survival after Zuma showdown
For Thabo Mbeki, it could have been the day that restored a reputation battered by perverse policies on HIV/Aids and Machiavellian strategies: the signing of a deal he brokered to end Zimbabwe’s political crisis and silence those who scorned his “quiet diplomacy” with Robert Mugabe.
7. Zimbabwe: It’s a deal
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF agreed a power-sharing deal with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Thursday to end the post-election crisis, both sides said.
8. Power at last for popular Zim hero Tsvangirai
After a decade as the face of the opposition in Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai received his just deserts on Monday when he was named prime minister in a government of national unity, alongside Robert Mugabe as president.
9. Zuma defies odds to head for presidency
Close escapes have become a habit for Jacob Zuma, whose corruption trial was called off on Friday and who now looks set to become South Africa’s president in a dramatic political comeback.
10. John Matshikiza dies in Jo’burg
Writer and actor John Matshikiza, a long-time contributor to the Mail & Guardian, died in Johannesburg on Monday night, said his daughter, Lindiwe.