SA public in full support of the Zimbabwean people, not Mbeki

By Alex Bell
03 July 2008

The South African president’s shameful role as the so called “mediator” in the Zimbabwe crisis appears to have isolated him from his own countrymen, who are now fans of a free Zimbabwe, rather than fans of Mbeki.

South Africa as a country has been the focus of global criticism because of President Thabo Mbeki’s failure, in his role as SADC appointed mediator, to bring an end to the ongoing crisis in Zimbabwe, as well as for his obvious bias towards his friend Robert Mugabe.

Katy Katapodis, the news editor for Talk Radio 702, an award winning news and information radio station based in Johannesburg, told Newsreel on Thursday that South Africans are strongly opposed to their president’s policy of “quiet diplomacy” and are using the local media to vent their anger and frustrations about the Zimbabwe situation. She said the Zimbabwean issue is one that is likely “to define Thabo Mbeki’s legacy as president, and there is pressure on him from his own countrymen to take action”.

She said “South African opposition parties and political analysts believe Mbeki needs to step down as mediator in the crisis” but she said at the same time “government officials think he is the best man for the job”.

Katapodis said the Zimbabwean situation has been dominating news in South Africa for weeks because “people are desperate for news” and there is a “keen interest”. She added that this is because “people are aware that there is a direct impact on South Africa if the situation in Zimbabwe does not change”. She said that members of the public who call into the radio station have said they are “angry and sad” about the situation, and at Mbeki’s role in the crisis, but are supportive of the “number of demonstrations and rallies taking place in solidarity with the Zimbabwean people”.

One such demonstration is South African Trade Union Federation, COSATU’s protest against the Mugabe regime taking place on Saturday at the Beit Bridge border post. Katapodis said such demonstrations are “indicative of how South Africans feel about the situation”.