Is South Africa the next Zimbabwe?

Where to from here?

Once upon a time I met someone who was very much a part of South Africa’s liberation struggle and after almost 16 years in exile recounted the following to his siblings while in Zimbabwe waiting to return to SA.

Thabo Mbeki has the ability to be great, but he’s head was stuck way to far up his own rear end and would be an obvious successor to Madiba as a result of his well to do education. However he would not be very successful because he would not be able to command the loyal support of the masses. JZ on the other hand who as a result of his lack of (well to do) education would not be a suitable successor to Madiba, but is one who held the loyal support of the masses, and herein came his warning. Beware the man who comes from the mass and promises to radically change his people’s lives (much like Robert Mugabe) but is actually devoid of any real character and who will eventually abuse his seat of power to such a degree to benefit his own purpose that (MY i.e. the person’s) South Africa is going to suffer terribly. It is interesting to note that this warning came 21 years ago.

If this person was able to foretell that which has happened in Zimbabwe in recent times, under the rule of ol’ Bob, what does that spell for us South African’s under the rule of JZ? Are we headed to become like another Zimbabwe under the rule of JZ and the ANC?

Image: http://www.osisa.org/sites/default/files/blog_images/welcome_to_zimbabwe.jpg