Cyril’s dance class

In the M&G this week [View this email in your browser]( November 25, 2020 [Mail & Guardian]( [Mail & Guardian]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( Hi there, Step-aside! Reshuffle to the left. Shuffle to the right. Freeze! There’s going to be blood on the dance floor as more names join the list. And Herman Mashaba writes about his time in the DA and how sidestepping the issue of race has given his colleagues the blues. Plus, masters of the swindle: court officials stealing from deceased estates. Get this week’s issue, in print and online. The race elephant lurking in the DA’s ‘laboratory’: Awkward doesn’t even begin to describe it. Tony Leon’s comments calling Mmusi Maimane an “experiment” have lifted the lid on what disgruntled black leaders describe as [insidious racism and a refusal to hold racists to account](. At least six black senior DA leaders holding senior positions in Parliament and provincial legislatures in several provinces have said they have resorted to being silent following the “old guard’s” removal of Maimane as the organisation’s leader. In this subscribers-only article Emsie Ferreira, Lizeka Tandwa and Khaya Koko look into the disparity in how black and white leaders feel they are treated within the party. Cape Town’s mayoral candidate battle is a two-horse race, say party leaders: Speaking of our esteemed opposition, it would appear to be a [two-horse race in the Cape Town Mayoral tussle](. Tandwa reports that the incumbent, Dan Plato, is said to be fighting a losing battle against his contenders, MEC for human settlement and Western Cape provincial leader Bonginkosi Madikizela and deputy chair of the Western Cape, MP and finance spokesperson Geordin Hill-Lewis. Foregone conclusions: [Why bother with elections in countries such as Uganda and Tanzania]( Even when only one result is possible, elections can tell us a lot about what’s really going on, write Justin Willis, Gabrielle Lynch and Nic Cheeseman. Jacob Zuma’s onslaught on the law is flawed: They’re often accompanied by clichés such as “everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty”; “I want my day in court to prove my innocence”; and “the charges against me are a political conspiracy”. When the Zuma legal strategy of delay and avoidance — sometimes referred to as “the Stalingrad defence” — seemed to become ineffective, the campaign had to change up to a higher gear, [from abusing the law to actively undermining it]( writes Johan van den Berg. Lindiwe Sisulu and Ayanda Dlodlo punted to be on their way out: Could it be time to wave goodbye to two stalwarts? President Cyril Ramaphosa’s victory over his foes within the ANC’s national executive committee last week was the impetus he needed to proceed with a cabinet reshuffle, sources in the party said. Party leaders close to Ramaphosa have named State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo and Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu as [the frontrunners to receive the chop](. ANC does not want to self reflect: The ANC of the past is gone. Its virtues and legacy sold to all sorts of bidders — low and high. Stepping aside may be a welcome and necessary act but it is too little too late. It cannot rebuild its moral unembeza. [That’s our view this week](. What do you think of Ramaphosa’s moves? Remember you can reach out to us anytime at ampersand@mg.co.za to give us your vents and compliments. Have a great weekend. Until Tuesday, Kiri Rupiah & Luke Feltham [Subscribe now]( Enjoy The Ampersand? Share it with your friends [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( [Share]( [Share]( Copyright © 2021 Mail & Guardian Media LTD, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive communications from the Mail & Guardian either at our website or by taking out a print subscription. Our mailing address is: Mail & Guardian Media LTD 25 Owl St BraamfonteinJohannesburg, Gauteng 2001 South Africa [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences or unsubscribe here.]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa