Jacob Zuma has rural gangster 'swag' that enables him to relate to the common man, said Sisonke Msimang at a Teach-In organised by the Rhodes University Department of Political and International Studies last week.
Jacob Zuma has rural gangster 'swag' that enables him to relate to the common man, said Sisonke Msimang at a Teach-In organised by the Rhodes University Department of Political and International Studies last week.
'Swag' here is a phrase common in hip-hop parlance which refers to an individual's 'swagger' or way of carrying and presenting oneself.
Msimang’s talk was on race, class, gender and an analysis of the 2014 election campaign.
It also looked at what this means for nation- and democracy-building in the coming five years.
The talk was held at Rhodes University's Barrat Lecture theatre on Thursday 22 May.
Msimang, a writer and activist, has worked on democracy and governance issues for the last 20 years.
She used the word 'swag' to analyse and compare how three of South Africa's political parties (ANC, DA and EFF) fared in this year's national election.
“Helen Zille and the DA have lost relevance with the new generation. This is a result of their aggressive election campaign marred by the Agang kiss and break-up and the recent Lindiwe Mazibuko conflict,” Msimang said.
She then likened Julius Malema to Robin Hood who “steals in the name of the poor, which explains why he managed to receive over a million votes in the elections.”
But it's Zuma, according to Msimang, who most relates to the history of the majority of South Africans.
He has mastered the art of self-reference with the common man, she added.
The Annual Teach-In takes the form of a week of public lectures hosted by the Rhodes University Department of Political and International Studies.
These lectures bring a particular issue of interest and concern in the public sphere to the attention of the University and the wider community.
