As South Africa prepares for the national and provincial elections, former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has issued a strong warning against voting for corrupt politicians in next month’s polls.
Madonsela, known for her role in exposing corruption and holding those in power accountable, believes that bringing back politicians like former President Jacob Zuma would lead the country into total collapse.
The upcoming elections, scheduled for 29 May, are expected to be the most hotly contested polls since the dawn of democracy 30 years ago. Madonsela, in an interview with eNCA, expressed her shock at the possibility of Zuma returning to public office.
She stated, “For me, it sounds bizarre as somebody who was in the ANC and knowing that MK is not owned by any person. Just from an ethics point of view, I’m shocked by President Zuma, I’m also shocked by the decision of the IEC to decide that if a court of law decided that if his sentence is 15 months by remission of sentence, the president has not overruled a court of law and his sentence is shorter.”
Madonsela further criticized the decision to allow Zuma to run for office, stating that it violates the principle of the separation of powers. She drew a comparison to the apartheid era when parliament created a higher code to overrule the Supreme Court of South Africa.
Madonsela urged South Africans not to forget Zuma’s refusal to obey the constitution and his alleged involvement in corrupt activities, including selling the country to the Gupta family and repurposing state entities to benefit his own interests.
“The people of South Africa should not forget that because if he does come back into power, he will do just that, he will finish that job,” Madonsela warned.
Earlier this month, Zuma addressed supporters outside the electoral court, emphasizing that he had lingering matters from his time in office. He expressed his confusion as to why presidents were limited to serving only two terms by law, stating that he had unfinished business in the presidential office.
“When a lot of people say they want a certain person, who’s going to say no? How can they deny democracy when it’s in the constitution? That’s what the constitution states,” Zuma argued.
“That boy from Nkandla never finished his two terms; he didn’t complete them. I am not a part of that group because I didn’t finish my term. If the people want me to serve, no one can stop me. They forget that I didn’t finish my term; I was removed before completing my term. There’s something I need to finish there,” he added.
