What ANc week!

South Africa has its third president since democracy in 1994 - Kgalema Mothlanthe, deputy president of the ANC. But you all knew that already, given that it took place yesterday. Yup, between the Zuma-Mbeki fight in the ANC and Mbeki resigning, suddenly it seems like our politics may finally have a bit of a restful period before the next elections. It is SO nice to have a president around whom there is not constant speculation of corruption. What would be even nicer is if we could have an ANC president of whom the same could be said.

Personally, I think they're both as guilty as sin. It's obvious they hate each other and are using the arms deal as the means to attempt to destroy each other. There are such strong factions within the ANC for each that this battle is certain to tear the ANC apart, despite all the ANC leadership's protestations that there is no crisis within the ANC. If that happens though, then that would bring about a very interesting time in SA politics, because we would no longer be a de facto single party state. Not being an ANC supporter myself, I would welcome this. I think it's very bad for any democracy to have one party that is able to dominate the political landscape so completely.

The ANC has done a lot of good in the country building houses, providing electricity and safe drinking water, and providing more primary health care clinics. I applaud them for this. However, I have been so disillusioned by their representatives in the Western Cape. The ANC members appear to be power-grabbing, self-serving, incompetent and corrupt. It doesn't surprise me at all that the Cape Town mayor is from a party that is not the ANC, even if the provincial government is ANC controlled. I think there are many Capetonians who are as fed up with the ANC as I am.

What really thrills me though, is that Trevor Manuel is once again our finance minister! Thank God for small mercies, and big ones. This man is one of the brightest and best when it comes to finance, and under his leadership this country has prospered financially. Long may his reign last.