Publication: Sunday Times Issued: Date: 2003-08-31 Reporter: Ranjeni Munusamy

Zuma Affair is Dragging South Africa's Name Through the Mud

Last Saturday, word reached the Southern African Development Community meeting in Tanzania that South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma would not be prosecuted.

Scribbled notes and printouts of Internet news stories were circulated among delegates. They stated that National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka had decided not to charge Zuma, but that prima facie evidence of criminal wrongdoing by him had been found.

Within an hour of Ngcuka's announcement, most of the heads of delegations of the other 12 countries were informed about the dramatic developments. Astonishment, sympathy, support and advice as well as interpretations of Ngcuka's statement were liberally dished out to, among others, Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

She was uncharacteristically quiet.

The next day, President Thabo Mbeki arrived in Dar es Salaam and the pall over the SA delegation grew heavier.

Mbeki appeared preoccupied and disturbed. His mood did not go unnoticed.

"Your President shouldn't worry," said one foreign minister, "this is what happens to African politicians. They get found guilty and persecuted before they even know what they did wrong."

Another said: "Maybe this will make President Mbeki get off his high horse and realise that he is not so different from us."

An official from Harare said: "If this had happened in Zimbabwe, the whole international community would be up in arms. Zuma is lucky he is South African."

And so it went on. Someone joked that this was like Big Brother himself being nominated for eviction.

A South African Foreign Affairs official says that since the Zuma saga flared up a few weeks ago, it has been difficult for her and her colleagues to interact in international forums.

One could hardly ask about the shenanigans in Swaziland or the allegations of corruption against the Zambian president while a fire was raging back home.

However, Ngcuka's announcement that the Scorpions had prima facie evidence of wrongdoing by Zuma but would not be able secure a conviction took the humiliation to a new level. The implication is that the man is guilty but covered his tracks well.

Zuma has a notable international profile by virtue of his role in conflict-resolution in the Great Lakes region.

Even if he is eventually given the opportunity guaranteed in the Bill of Rights to prove his innocence, the events of the past few weeks have done him substantial damage.

But the impact of the indictment is not on Zuma alone. It is rubbing off on Mbeki, the government, the ANC and the nation.

The romantic image of a nation championed by selfless freedom-fighters is in tatters. We look as corrupt as everybody else. We have lost our moral high ground.

To secure our standing in the international community - such that we carry weight in powerful groups like the G8, the UN, the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement - took years of footwork by former President Nelson Mandela and Mbeki.

We may still have influence once the Zuma affair is over, but our star will have waned.

It is hardly possible for Mbeki to continue evangelising for good governance, rooting out corruption and respect for the rule of law when there is a serious blight on our reputation, and if the brawls between the Presidency and Justice Ministry persist.

Under Mbeki's leadership, South Africa weathered the Aids and Zimbabwe storms - mostly because the President was convinced that his position was correct.

But it is quite clear that he is at a loss when it comes to this epic battle between Zuma and Ngcuka. He and Mandela have been begging for help from anyone who could bring this ugly episode to an end.

Those who are celebrating and capitalising on the battle have little concept of how much it has defaced South Africa's image.

Ngcuka has claimed he has acted in the interests of our democracy and in defence of the Constitution.

And it has been said repeatedly that the fact that someone of the stature of the deputy president has been put to the test by the justice system is an affirmation of our democracy and testimony to the fact that we are all equal before the law.

But this nation, perhaps more than any in the world, knows the value of democracy. Had there been any sign that it was being compromised?

And was this test worth the price we are now paying?

With acknowledgements to Ranjeni Munusamy and the Sunday Times.