The ANC has a public relations nightmare on its hands ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.
The Zondo Commission’s final report is due to be released just days before we go to the polls to vote for local government officials.
State capture details involving theft, corruption, nepotism, cronyism and the politics of patronage will be fresh on the minds of voters, as we prepare to make our marks.
Add to that Covid lockdown resentment, a struggling economy that has led to one of the highest unemployment rates in the world and recent stats showing a stubborn crime curve, and the ruling party has ample reason to be concerned.
Most citizens can accept the ever increasing prices of basic necessities and daily challenges, as long as there’s at least the appearance of concern from our political leaders.
But now Judge Zondo’s report is very likely going to tarnish any semblance of honesty and social concern that’s left in the party.
Cyril Ramaphosa is right to be nervous. So much so, that he is bracing the party for an onslaught of broad public criticism and disappointment at best … and a revocation of their mandate at worst.
And of course opposition political parties are smelling blood in the water.
They must realise that against what will be in the Zondo Report, they won’t have to do much to look attractive to voters.
That’s why almost all of them argued against the IEC’s Constitutional Court application to postpone the elections.
The court ruled against any delay, so the elections will take place between 27 October and 1 November.
Zondo’s report would have been made public just days earlier and Ramaphosa would presumably have taken some action to implement his recommendations.
But will it be enough to secure the ANC any kind of win?
We live in crazy times, so it could go either way.
I’m sure I am not the only one left wondering about the motives for the IEC’s application and whether the “independent” in their initials still apply.