Zuma is innocent until proven guilty. Time to start the election.

Whether or not a cloud hangs over ANC president Jacob Zuma, he is innocent until he is proven guilty in a court of law. This obviously relates to the legal position and not the court of public opinion. The fact of the matter is that regardless of the brouhaha that has arisen from the methods employed to have the charges dropped, they are — as things stand — a thing of the past and South Africa has an election looming large on the horizon.

Zuma is the ANC’s submission as its presidential candidate and despite any misgivings being felt, judgement on his performance is best left for post-election.

In terms of the NPA, NIA and the judiciary, a lot of questions still need to be answered but as former president Thabo Mbeki confirmed this week, a lot is currently being based on unfounded speculation. Parties now need time to breathe in order to ascertain exactly what transpired within the state organisations and bring these matters to a head. What is clear is that there have been breaches, leaks and acts designed at intimidating personnel which will require serious investigations if these events are not to be repeated.

While many of us were annoyed at both the interception of the calls of highly placed government figures as well the possession of documentation and information by parties who appear to have no right thereto, we are just as angry at what those revealed. The fact that Zuma was a target for political annihilation cannot be overlooked and the methods which were required to be employed to extricate himself therefrom do find substantial mitigation therein.

Julius Malema, the ANC youth league president, took on a more conciliatory tone late in the week and I would very humbly suggest that in order to avoid the ever widening spiral that these events are taking, that we, particularly within the Alliance, take a step back. There is the small matter of government at hand and with it the vital struggle that confronts this country — the war on poverty.

Opposition parties will and should point out the shortcomings of the ANC and continue to try to keep them in line but for the alliance, the time for a show of unity ahead of the election has arrived.

As South Africans — despite the major mudslinging — we should be proud of the fact that no material conflict has taken place and that perhaps we are after all a democracy that can sustain robust debate.