There was a time when I was awestruck at some Asian politicians who resign immediately when they are accused of something.
It happens mostly in South Korea and Japan, where politicians who are accused of sexual misconduct or corruption don’t just resign, but will often offer a tearful public apology to boot.
The idea of a local politician apologising and willingly resigning is such a novelty to me that I always pay attention when it happens.
So, of course, Nhlanhla Nene’s recent actions made me sit up.
First he resigns as finance minister after telling the State Capture commission he had, in fact, had more meetings with the Guptas than he had previously admitted.
And then he promptly also resigns as MP.
It was an unthinkable thing of beauty to see the man shooting for moral redemption, by committing political suicide.
But why? I’ll be honest and admit I liked Nene, because he struck me as an innocent pawn in a game of political intrigue.
How could I have been so wrong?
But it came to me that all of this may be a game within a game to win the moral upper hand.
There are lots of whispers of President Cyril Ramaphosa having to negotiate a treacherous sea of old Jacob Zuma supporters, who challenge him at every turn.
As more and more skeletons fall out of the State Capture closet, Nene may in fact be setting the tone for what he and Ramaphosa are hoping will become a trend.
When you consider it more closely, then not only does it give Ramaphosa a strong moral weapon, Nene’s admission and resignation also pile even more suspicion onto the Guptas.
And that ultimately weakens the Zuma camp.
So Nene may not have fallen on his sword as much as he may have given Ramaphosa a sword with which he can make even more heads roll.