Now that President Jacob Zuma resigned on the 14th February 2018, there is questions to what it will lead too. On the 16th February the African National Congress (ANC) and the Members of Parliament sworn-in Cyril Ramaphosa as their new President. Who after long days of drama all week was waiting for Zuma to step down. So Ramaphosa could become his successor. He did so and resigned so that he couldn’t be impeached by the Parliament on the 15th February, as Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) Julius Malema, who wanted that vote and the Parliament Speaker blocked Democratic Alliance (DA) Mmusi Maimane, who wanted to dissolve the Parliament because of this. So, the opposition didn’t get their will from the ANC. But the years of fighting Zuma is now done, though it is starting to shift. Still, the opposition should want the judiciary and authorities to investigate Zuma and his associates futher. Not for retribution, but to make sure justice is served.
This week is evidence of how fickle the power is and sudden the reach of power goes away. The Executive Branch that Zuma hold from 2009 until 14th February 2018, one year before his term finished. Proves the volatile state of grandest power. That is also because Zuma and his comrades misused their time, instead of serving the people. They we’re more preoccupied with shady dealings and using state tenders to get kickbacks and graft. The reporting and the revelations has unraveled all sort of scandals that has tormented the presidency. Even if the President had powers to stop investigations and arrests. He still couldn’t stop the embarrassment of his shady dealings and his occupation with securing good deals for friends of his.
This has been evident with the power of the Gupta investor family who has started dozens of businesses, in all sort of markets that are based on government tenders, state owned enterprises and licenses. This being media, energy, minerals, banking and so on. All from Sahara Computers, Oakbay Investments, Oakbay Resources, ANN7 and New Age Newspaper. This is just the well known ones, not the other whose made with other investment portfolios, who surely has made some questionable tradings in the Republic. Since the Gupta based company has used Transnet, Ministry of Agriculture and Eskom for instance to get grand deals, but not delivering due diligence to the SOE’s.
So the Gupta are now in trouble as the Executive Privilege of Zuma is fallen. His basis of power is gone, as Ramaphosa came there and he hasn’t needed the support or supporting Zuma to be a big shot in ANC. That is why the ones who stood close and was appointed by Zuma himself or by help of Gupta’s can now wait their judgment.
The ones that can miss their places in the world are the likes of Bogani Bongo, Mosebenzi Zwane, Lynne Brown, Bathbile Dlamini, Malusi Gigaba, David Mahlobo, Fikile Mbalula, Nomvula Mokonyane, Nathi Mthethwa and Des Van Rooyen. All of these ministers and such can expect to be fired or should resign.
We should expect many of the appointed leaders in both the judiciary and in the ombudsman or public protector to be re-assigned somewhere else, as their independence has been within the reach of the President. They didn’t start using their power until Zuma had lost his power. The SAPS, Hawks and Scorpions should have come quicker against the Gupta and Zuma associates. Also, the SARS should follow the methods into the abuses done, so there are so many loose ties with shady deals, that needs to implicate more people, than most likely Ramaphosa want to see in bracelets. Since the ANC let the corruption happen over the years, not only because of Zuma, but because they wanted to eat.
We know that the power is fickle as Duduzane Zuma and Ajay Gupta are running from the law and there is 1 million rand on their head from the Police. This shows how quickly they went from rich heroes into fugitives. Two weeks ago, even if the public was tired of the stealing form the state, they we’re still Teflon. Now they are Bugsy Malone on the streets.
The South African electorate should hope that the investigations and that the people who has stolen from the state reserves are taken into custody and the pays for their crimes. All these corrupt activity and the hackwork done to make sure the Zuma family could get wealthy and the associates who wanted the same. Zuma should also worry that he could be indicted now and actually pay for crimes. He has enough counts and alleged crimes on him. So he could if charged and could serve time for it. Now that his presidency is over. Unless, he flees with stolen gains to his mansion in Dubai.
The Gupta family knows their in trouble, the Hawks raid and the price on the head of the family members can all meet all the different arms of justice. That the businesses and the tenders are annulled and the forged profitable businesses possibly fail. As other businessmen and other investors who actually not planning to eat government funds, but actually service delivery. Zuma knew he used them, because he would benefit from the agreements. That is why he changed financial minister to fit the deals between Zuma and his associates in Gupta businesses.
Let’s us see how far they can fall, how much punishment the state will give them, as they can now be served by the authorities. Even Zuma can now be touched. That is proven with his fleeing family member Duduzane. Now, let see if they will all fall from the cliff or will be left with scratches. We can hope that Ramaphosa and the judiciary are able together with the investigators to build cases that can actually verify the State of Capture and Denton’s Report. So that the state can follow the shady deals of Gupta’s, I am sure there are more than what has been reported by whistleblowers. The state should do what it can and scrutinize every single tender given to businesses connected to the Gupta family. Peace.
