By Nco Dube

Cults of personality have long plagued South African politics, undermining democratic institutions and stability. Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, Julius Malema and Cyril Ramaphosa have all been accused of cultivating personality cults around themselves. Thabo Mbeki and Cyril Ramaphosa not so much that they cultivated it themself but that they allowed it to take root without discouraging it.

These cults have significant implications for the country’s democracy, as they concentrate power in the hands of a single individual, eroding checks and balances and the rule of law.

A cult of personality is characterised by the excessive promotion of a leader’s image and the suppression of dissent or criticism. This often involves the use of propaganda, patriotism, and government or party organised demonstrations to elevate the leader’s status. In South Africa, this has manifested in leaders assigning themselves grandiose titles like CIC, uBaba, The Chief and uMntwana (an innocuous enough Zulu title for a prince/princess which eventually became synonymous with Buthelezi),  having their images plastered on public buildings and using their parties to purge opponents.

The dangers of such personality cults are significant for a developing democracy like South Africa. They concentrate power in the hands of a single individual, eroding checks and balances and the rule of law. This can lead to the abuse of power, corruption, and the suppression of dissent – all of which undermine democratic institutions and stability. Furthermore, personality cults can create a culture of fear and intimidation, where citizens are reluctant to speak out against the government or challenge its policies.

They also allow fanaticism and blind loyalty to flourish with people accepting anything from the leader as gospel truth and anyone who dares to question the leader dealt with harshly.

The causes of personality cults are complex, but often stem from a desire for strong, charismatic leadership, as well as the exploitation of ethnic, racial, or ideological divisions for political gain. In South Africa, the legacy of apartheid and the struggle for liberation have provided fertile ground for such cults to take root. The country’s history of racial and ethnic divisions has created a political landscape where leaders can exploit these divisions to build support and legitimacy.

In the case of Mangosuthu Buthelezi, his Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has been accused of cultivating a personality cult around him. Buthelezi, who was a key figure in the apartheid homelands and the Zulu royal household, has been criticised for using his party to promote his own image and suppress dissent. 

His party has been known to use violence and intimidation to silence opponents, and Buthelezi has been accused of using his position as the Zulu Traditional Prime Minister to cultivate a cult of personality around himself as a counter weight to the Zulu King’s power and influence so he could use that to advance the interests of his political party.

Thabo Mbeki, who served as President of South Africa from 1999 to 2008, was also accused of allowing a cult of personality around himself to persist. To his credit, Mbeki has never been seen to be actively cultivating the cult or even promoting it. But he never discouraged it and it persists to this day many years after his retirement from active politics.

Mbeki’s government was criticised for its authoritarian tendencies, and he was accused of using his position to suppress dissent and criticism. Mbeki’s presidency of the then ruling African National Congress (ANC), was also accused of using its power to purge opponents and silence critics.

Jacob Zuma, who also served as President of South Africa from 2009 to 2017, was accused of cultivating a personality cult around himself. Zuma’s government was criticised for its corruption and abuse of power, and he was accused of using his position to enrich himself and his allies. 

Zuma’s many clashes with the law has seen him assume a very effective position of victimhood which he exploits very well for political gain. This has culminated in him launching his own political party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), where he is at the centre and nothing moves without uBaba. He seems to be the only authority in the party and everyone defers to him and his wishes and instructions. Power seems to be centralised only in his hands with reports that only he has the poer to appoint and fire.

There is a similar and growing cult-like behaviour from the supporters of current ANC and South African President Ramaphosa. This seems to have its roots from the factional divisions within the ANC where factions promote and protect their leader with not much care of the relevant facts, impact on the ANC and country, or the upholding of the law. State resources have also been used and manipulated to protect Ramaphosa. An example of this is the fanatic illogical defence of his Phala Phala scandal.

Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), is also seen to be actively cultivating a personality cult around himself. Malema, who was a key figure in the ANC before he was expelled, has been criticised for his authoritarian tendencies and his use of violence and intimidation to silence opponents. Malema’s party has been known to use its power to purge opponents and silence critics.

Malema has assumed a pseudo-military ranking system within his party with him at the helm as Commander-In-Chief (CIC). He talks of giving instructions and directions to his leadership collective and they dutifully defer to him as if he were their king. The party’s emphasis on loyalty and obedience to its leader has led to concerns about the erosion of democratic values and the concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals.

To address the challenge of personality cults in South African politics, the country must strengthen its democratic institutions, promote transparency and accountability, and cultivate a political culture that values pluralism and the rule of law. This will require a concerted effort from political leaders, civil society, and the public to resist the allure of personality cults and instead focus on the collective interests of the nation.

Citizens can actively resist the allure of personality cults by promoting a culture of transparency and accountability in politics. This can be achieved through various means, such as:

– Encouraging open and honest communication from political leaders

– Holding leaders accountable for their actions and decisions

– Promoting internal democracy within political parties

– Supporting independent media and investigative journalism

– Educating citizens about the dangers of personality cults and the importance of democratic values

Another way to address the challenge of personality cults is to promote a culture of pluralism and the rule of law. This can be done by promoting a diverse range of political parties and viewpoints, and by ensuring that the country’s institutions are independent and impartial. This can help to prevent any one individual or group from dominating the political landscape and undermine the rule of law.

In conclusion, personality cults have long plagued South African politics, undermining democratic institutions and stability. The country must take steps to address this challenge by promoting a culture of transparency and accountability, and by cultivating a political culture that values pluralism and the rule of law. This will require a concerted effort from political leaders, civil society, and the public to resist the allure of personality cults and instead focus on the collective interests of the nation.