For a whole two weeks the African National Congress (ANC) came face to face with the enemy within — the contradictions within the glorious movement. It had to deal with a president who most ANC members would defend to the bitter end but who constantly springs surprises on them — the most recent of which was a love child and an extramarital affair.
The party did its best to mop up the worst of the mess, but made it clear to Zuma that the ANC was gatvol and had reached its limit. ANC leaders refused to rush to his defence as they usually do, instead grinding their teeth in an uncomfortable silence that surrounded the party on this issue.
ANC MPs could not hide their discomfort with the president. During his State of the Nation address they applauded him civilly, but there was none of the abundant enthusiasm that signalled Zuma’s first such address in June 2009.
Their response to the State of the Nation debate on Monday was even more telling. DA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip climbed into an already tense Zuma like no other leader has done before, asking Zuma if he had even bothered to read the speech before he delivered it.
Trollip also had the audacity to ask Zuma whether he had been “set up” by his advisers and whether he realised the importance of this speech.
Extremely harsh words from Trollip, but the silence from the MPs spoke more loudly. Everyone in the ANC benches sat stoically watching Trollip speak and not even a whisper was raised about the opposition berating Zuma in such a crude and personal manner.
More confident
Zuma also did not take Trollip on in his reply on Tuesday, even though he seemed significantly more confident and defiant than he was during his State of the Nation address.
His advisers argue that he would not stoop to Trollip’s level, but perhaps it is simpler than that: he had nothing with which to defend himself. But the rest of his response on Tuesday was simple and straightforward. He spoke from the heart about difficult topics like Julius Malema and nationalisation and seemed to say things he really believed in.
His MPs royally repaid him for that: the applause was overwhelming and senior MPs rushed to his side to congratulate him. And when Cope MP Mluleki George was kicked out of the house for refusing to say sorry for a comment, it gave them something they could all rally behind — an enemy outside.
With some of Zuma’s dignity among his peers restored, the ANC could focus on the opposition and milked the ill-advised “fuck you” from DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard for all it was worth.
And they proved again that, for the ANC, economy, poverty and underdevelopment are key challenges. But the most difficult task that the movement faces is looking at itself honestly.