Time for Jews to demand Zuma leave

Geoff Sifrin

Taking Issue

The Methodist Church of Southern Africa set an example last week in their statement calling for Zuma to go, which was reported in Times Live: “…President Zuma [should] do the honourable thing and resign to save himself, the ANC and the nation as a whole from further embarrassment and ruin… We the people of South Africa must put pressure on the ANC and Parliament to ‘assist’ the president to vacate office peacefully and constitutionally.”

Struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada wrote an open letter calling on Zuma to step down. The New York Times in an editorial did the same.

Is there a formally representative Jewish voice that can speak on this, or must it remain an individual choice for Jews? Major Jewish organisations define their goals as safeguarding the Jewish way of life, combating anti-Semitism, lobbying for Israel, taking care of Jewish elderly and needy and so on. They are not mandated to get involved directly in politics.

Looking after Jewish interests is essential. However, when the focus is too narrow, it may carry a broader moral cost. During apartheid, for example, for the sake of Jewish interests and fear of provoking government anti-Semitism, Jewish organisations kept their heads low politically.

The SAJBD refrained from criticising the racist system for decades, although many Jews were morally repulsed by it. Only in 1985 – when it was already safe to do so – did it unequivocally condemn apartheid.

Jewish interests play a role in the current dilemma. Jewish leaders have often said Zuma is not anti-Israel, and has helped resolve problems between South Africa and Israel. There is no hint of anti-Semitism from him. Indeed, he was a keynote speaker at the SAJBD’s national conference last year, along with WJC President Ronald Lauder and French Jewish philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy.

But Zuma is a master at cultivating relationships that keep people beholden to him. That’s how he survives politically. Individuals remain silent about his corrupt behaviour because their interests are at stake, although their consciences demand otherwise. Jewish leaders have for years carefully cultivated government links, so when help is needed in a Jewish-related matter, doors will open.

What is the right thing to do now, as the Zuma wrecking ball continues pummelling the country? Would a Jewish organisation publish something like the Sunday Times did last weekend on its front page, which declared in huge letters: “For the sake of your country, Mr President, GO NOW!”

In recent decades Jews have largely withdrawn from national politics. There is no equivalent personality today like Helen Suzman – a Jewish parliamentarian eloquently addressing the country’s moral condition. But Jews are as concerned as anyone. Each day Zuma and his lackeys remain in power, is another day of disaster.

Could Jews step into their other shoes – the patriotic South African ones – and ask what is good for the whole country? The community is a tiny minority of 70 000 in a national population of 54 million. Would it be wise for it to stick its neck out and risk provoking a backlash from the ANC or other quarters?

This Jewish community has had giants for leaders in the past, whose gravitas enabled them to speak truth to power. Does the community have what it takes to stand for what is right today?

Informal discussions between individual Jews, ANC politicians and others are to be encouraged. But is it perhaps time for a formally constituted Jewish body to demand Zuma’s resignation for the good of the country, as the Methodists did?

Read Geoff Sifrin’s regular columns on his blog sifrintakingissue.wordpress.com