[imagesource: Jaco Marais / Netwerk24]

2020, hey – we made it.

There’s nothing quite like the combination of morning load shedding and evening Carte Blanche to remind you that the holidays are over, and it’s time to return to work.

I don’t know what your year has in store for you, but for some of South Africa’s biggest political names, it promises to be another blockbuster.

The always excellent Daily Maverick has taken a look at the political year ahead, starting with what the crisis at Eskom means for President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In a nutshell, it could prove to be his biggest headache:

…the president himself is also certain to face tremendous heat over the apparent inability of government to get a firm hand on the problem, despite Ramaphosa’s assurances in December 2019 that a crisis meeting had resulted in promising an “emergency recovery plan”.

It is Eskom that increasingly looks likely to be the single greatest albatross of Ramaphosa’s presidency

It doesn’t help when you boldly promise that there will be no load shedding up until January 13, and then that falls flat on its face.

The ANC will also be holding its mid-term policy conference, which should generate enough hot air to power a lifetime of balloon rides, and also promises to be a rough ride for Ramaphosa:

…the progress made to date on matters such as land expropriation is unlikely to be judged sufficient by the party’s RET forces. The draft amendment bill on expropriation without compensation is still out for public comment and the bill may yet face legal challenges.

Add delays on the implementation of National Health Insurance, the wrangling over the handling of state-owned entities and the ongoing unemployment crisis, and Ramaphosa’s foes will be lining up to marshal their forces and take aim.

You can bet Ace Magashule (above) and his cabal of crooks are working hard behind the scenes to try and take down the incumbent leader of the ANC, with the threat of possible criminal prosecution into matters such as the Estina Dairy Project looming in the distance.

Also with her back against the wall is Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane (below), who endeared a horrid 2019. Then again, given that she is clearly hellbent on taking down the likes of Ramaphosa and Pravin Gordhan, and protecting Magashule, she will have support from within the ruling party.

As the Daily Maverick makes clear, if she survives the current Parliamentary proceedings against her, Ace and his buddies may be far more powerful than is healthy for this country.

What does 2020 hold for the DA? Other than Helen Zille continuing to relentlessly tweet divisive comments and hot takes, the party must also elect a new leader.

Current interim leader John Steenhuisen (below) is sitting pretty, but he will face challenges at the DA’s full national congress in April:

Likely challengers to Steenhuisen have yet to be confirmed, with sole rival Makashule Gana suffering a bruising defeat in the interim vote. There is speculation, however, that close Helen Zille ally Bonginkosi Madikizela – currently the DA’s Western Cape leader – may be throwing his hat into the ring.

Past DA leadership battles have often been bitterly fought affairs, with unsuccessful challengers – such as veteran DA politician Wilmot James – sometimes leaving the party thereafter. DA leaders will be praying that this year’s contest is a more discreet and muted affair, since the last thing the party needs is further public displays of dirty laundry or factional conflict.

Maybe some of their more senior members should take a break from Twitter. Really now, it’s all getting silly.

Our former president may also, finally, get his day in court, despite his best efforts to avoid being held accountable:

Bar a last-minute deus ex machina from the Constitutional Court in Zuma’s favour, the former president should still face the corruption charges he’s dodged for 15 years, in a courtroom in 2020.

The pre-trial proceedings are set down for 4 February in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, with supporters planning a “month-long mobilisation” ahead of Zuma’s first appearance alongside a public campaign for funds towards legal costs.

Apparently, his supporters are trying to raise eleventy five thousand rand.

To finish, what now for Mmusi Maimane, having left the DA behind?

Finally, former DA leader Mmusi Maimane and former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba have indicated that they aim to launch their People’s Dialogue movement – with an eye to creating a “people-driven political party” – early in the new year. The first order of business is a “programme of town hall meetings”.

Can their talking circles bring something new to the political arena? Many analysts are sceptical; then again, the 2019 election’s depressed voter turnout suggests many South African voters are also deeply gatvol of their current political options.

Gatvol would be putting it mildly.

Looks like 2020 should have plenty of twists and turns, most of which leave us sighing audibly.

Strap in and enjoy the ride.

[source:dailymaverick]