Comments on: Thabo Mbeki – bookending failure with two great speeches

By: Floyd Tshegare

Floyd Tshegare — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:22:25 +0000

It’s such an easy thing for all these commentators to sit and pontificate on how the public should judge Thabo Mbeki’s legacy. Yet let’s bear in mind that even Tony Blair was judged harshly by his detractors. I doubt if this platform will be of any value in terms of offering any balanced perspective on this matter. But what the heck.. We try.

All we can say for is that under his stewardship, South Africa experienced the longest economic growth period. Hence creating many job opportunities albeit not enough! Given our enormous challenges, it’s not surprising.

The clamouring of the left is deafening to any forward looking, logical South African! Those who regard Mbeki’s orientation to global affairs ‘Internationalist’ forget to mention that the idea of an Africa that seeks to be self sufficient in this current world economic environment was given life by Thabo Mbeki! Who will now have the energy to criss-cross Africa in search of peaceful solutions to these endemic social conflicts? If the saying “Africa for Africans” is true, then we must all agree that an Africa at war with itself will be of no value to its people and the World.

I think to call Thabo Mbeki’s era an “unmitigated disaster” is naive and foolish. What fickle grandstanding ! Absolutely over the top and irresponsible.

By: Michael Graaf

Michael Graaf — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:28:50 +0000

I have always found Mbeki reminded me of Jan Smuts – and not just because both had goatees. Both were intellectuals who aspired to grandiose global roles to the detriment of their tasks at home. Both had nasty little skeletons in their cupboards (Smuts must have been the first world leader to use his airforce against his own citizens).

By: Mhambi’s 2008: Twice bitten by South Africa, once comfortably numb

Mhambi’s 2008: Twice bitten by South Africa, once comfortably numb — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:34:17 +0000

[...] When Judge Nicolson found that Thabu Mbeki had interferred with the NPA and that the Zuma trial therefore could not go ahead, the Zuma ANC found the pretext to get rid of Mbeki as the countries president having earlier lost his position as head of the ANC. Mbeki gave a great speech. [...]

By: Kameraad Mhambi

Kameraad Mhambi — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:19:40 +0000

Friend, I don’t agree with you that Mbeki should have stayed at all.

If I was not clear enough above then let me be clearer, I think by and large that he was an unmitigated disaster.

David makes an excellent point above about Mbeki’s political autism.

Even Mark Gevisser who so thoroughly research Mbeki, spent time with him and his lieutenants, and who is a gifted wordsmith, even he had considerable trouble explaining these voices in Mbeki’s head.

That’s hardly what you want in a leader.

By: boerinballingskap

boerinballingskap — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:33:35 +0000

I’m actually on record saying that JZ must have his chance and that he cannot be worse for the country than Mbeki was. BUT the more I listen to JZ and read about him, the more doubtful I become. I’ve also said that I don’t believe that JZ will become President, because the Mbeki camp will do anything to prevent it. I still believe that JZ remains a marked man among his opponents and that he will have to watch his back for all those knives. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Mbeki.

By: Friend

Friend — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:11:05 +0000

I agree, Mbeki has many shortfalls, but the reason he should have stayed is the replacements.
Isn’t this great fear of the Zuma camp the reason why SA is in such a mess? I mean, maybe Zuma tackles crime, like he said he would?

By: David Ansara

David Ansara — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:38:54 +0000

Good observation about never firing anyone except his enemies (and how he viewed them as enemies and not opponents).

Mbeki’s major flaw was surrounding himself with mediocre people and prizing loyalty over performance.

There was also plenty of political autism – only listening to the voices inside your head. Zuma may appear to have a less profound mind, but as you say, he is a listener and this will give us something that was severely lacking in his predecessor.

The visuals for the “I’m an African” speech were very football orientated, don’t you think?

By: Kameraad Mhambi

Kameraad Mhambi — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:13:42 +0000

I meant Boer of course, and not alleman. Apologies.

By: Kameraad Mhambi

Kameraad Mhambi — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:11:56 +0000

alleman, as little as 6 months ago I thought that out of a shaddow of a doubt, that Zuma would be hard pressed, and unlikely to be worse than Mbeki.

Zuma has three key character trait that makes him a lot more suited to running a divided country like SA than Mbeki. He is open and approachable, he likes people in general and is secure in what and who he is.

Mbeki was none of these things. He thought all whites are racist, Afrikaners ’special’ (in the negative sense of the word) rural blacks uncouth and in general was an Afro-pessimist.

But now – after the likes of Malema has come out of the woodwork in support of Zuma – I’m a little less sure.

By: boerinballingskap

boerinballingskap — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:16:15 +0000

Although I’ve never been an admirer of TM and acknowledge the fact that his downfall was very much of his own making, I couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for him. It reminds me very much of the year 1989. The question remains: Are the people of South Africa going to be better off without him? If I look at JZ and his cronies, I’m not sure myself.