While I've never really taken an active interest in politics I have nevertheless been keenly aware of the shifts in the political landscape of South Africa and how they affect the narrative pulse of our nation. I've gathered this information and formed the perspectives I have based on some fairly superficial gleanings from the media reporting on political events.

In particular, I've had some strong emotional responses of late as I've been considering the shifts leading up to this weekends ANC National Conference and the recent branch nominations for the party's president. Unsurprisingly, Jacob Zuma has wrapped up the nominations process, and I've begun to wonder to myself how he has gathered so much support when one considers the saga's he's been invovled in (generally corrupt relationship with Schabir Shaik and a pragmatic approach to preventing the contraction of HIV)? Surely, rational people would not nominate a fellow with such a cloud hanging over his head? Unless there is something about the bloke that I've missed? And then it hit me! The only information I have of JZ has come from what the media has reported about him … not wise when formulating an opinion.

And so, I logged onto Kalahari.net and bought two books that have been launched recently and that I felt would bolster my lack of knowledge of the ANC and of the leadership race between Zuma and Mbeki. The books are Andrew Feinstein's After the Party and Mark Gevisser's Thabo Mbeki: A Dream Deferred. Having just finished Feinstein, and just started Gevisser, I am growing increasingly worried about this Sunday's voting outcome.

Feinstein has written a deeply personal narrative on his experiences within the ANC, and more specifically as a role player in the investigations into the arms deal. While it is a personal story, and by no means an agreed upon, objective version of the events, one must still consider deeply his perspective. It is a perspective and experience of being shunned and sidelined for investigating the alleged corruption into the arms deal. With thriller novel like twists one begins to get a view of the ANC leadership as being covert, under-handed and deeply paranoid about the inner workings of the deal. Mbeki comes across as autocratic, paranoid and most disturbing of all, Machiavellian.

This is really sad considering the government and party that Mandela lead in the 1995 to 1999 period … characterised by robust debate, not by decisions made in hushed whispers behind closed doors in smoke-filled rooms. Having been very pro-Mbeki on this website and in conversation, I've begun to wonder if there's a deeper side to the President that we should really be worried about?

Could Feinstein's perspective on Mbeki be the reason why Zuma has garnered such support: that in the absence of another forerunning candidate, even Zuma represents a better option that re-electing Mbeki?

I'm not sure of the answer yet, and that is why I'm moving onto Gevisser's biography of Mbeki pretty quickly.