Conspiracy Theory Politics Debases Legacy of Madiba and OR Tambo

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We are living through uneasy and bewildering political times. Our political culture seems fraught with conspiracy, intrigue and, sadly, very little openness or integrity at the moment.

Clearly the leadership race is on within the ANC. Who will our next president be? The citizens of South Africa are in the dark as we watch the political in-fighting seep through to the highest levels of the state. Ironically, it is President Thabo Mbeki, as head of state, who is, if conspiracy theorists are to be believed, so intent on preventing a Jacob Zuma presidency that he will attempt at every turn to consolidate his power and support base within the party.

Who knows whether this is true or not? After all, "the branches will decide" who our next president will be, as the ANC always says. The state of ANC branches, which seem to fluctuate between dysfunction and bloated membership, do not inspire much confidence that the "branches will decide".

The alternative, that a …