Comments Related To: Who is the true South African Dictator? Is Jacob Zuma a leader or a puppet?

Party vs Politician? Who's accountable? Sounds like US politic!

By the way...striking photo!!

Trouble with Africa is that nobody is ever accountable for things that go wrong and everyone is very much in the headlines accountable when things go right.
In Africa only other people make mistakes and we all are taught to realise that it is the rest of the world that has put us in this deplorable situation!
Nothing that goes wrong is ever our fault.
Glad you enjoyed the photo.

In a democratic government the head of the country is merely a figurehead who gets blamed for everything wrong and no credit when things go right. In the US Barack Obama may be the President but it is Congress who passes the laws and in the end has the final say. Obama cannot pass laws only suggest they be made. I cannot speak on the politics of South Africa but it is probably somewhat similar.

Democracy in South Africa seems to mean that once the voting is over we basically get a dictatorship. We do not have a true democracy and the constitution is changed as and when the need arises and always in favour of the head of state and which ever party he belongs to.
An excellent example of a democracy in Africa is Zimbabwe, the president rules and if you do not like it then get out.
Here in South Africa we live in the hope that Mr Zuma will remain a democratic leader but already it seems that he is perhaps going the way of a puppet dictator.
Africa is still very much under the influence of the tribal systems and therefore it is very hard for any African country to be ruled in peace. Here in south Africa we have eleven official languages, English, Afrikaans and then nine of the main black languages. There is not just racism due to colour but also racism due to tribal differences.
Africans do not fully understand the meaning of the word democracy as they find it hard to accept other nations beliefs and cultures!!!

Brigid,
That's such a fitting photo. I think that the world is following a circle. The peak of democracy has been lived in and done with. And now almost every country in the world is back to square 1! Care to defer? :)

I sometimes wonder why I even bother to try and understand politics and where it is going to these days. It's a lot easier to do the ostrich thing and bury the head in the sand. Ignorance certainly can be bliss, but then if I don't try I can't complain so perhaps I will continue on in eternal hope of great things to come in my lifetime.

I admire you for taking up the position for it is through writers that the flame for history's greatest revolutions get fueled up. I wish you godspeed, and I shall be along your side as an avid supporter. *cheers*

It looks like South Africa is returning to Apartheid. 10/6/2009.

Apartheid in reverse in so many ways. Pity we cannot learn from each others mistakes. South Africans are one of the most pig-headed nations in the world, we never admit when we are wrong and it is always up to someone else to put things right.

bridgidprimrose, I found that problem in lot of places. Even around here
in our immediate neighborhood. They used to have corporations like the
National Power keeping a tough hand over the people until I took a stand
and ran a petition to get the illegal power generating lines off private
property and denouncing their so called permit as a forgery after I saw
an American counterfitter in the office a few years ago. The bugger took
the hint and ran back to America. I reported the matter to the National
government and those power lines have been disconnected from the local
sub station never to be used again. All the people had fallen asleep allowing these bastards to put them down, they needed new blood with some guts to wake them up and say no. The old generating lines have been disconnected and are sitting idle not being used anymore, waiting
for somebody to cut them down while the various government agencies are
wrangling about who's going to pay for their removal. 11/6/2009.