President Jacob Zuma Arrest Site unveiled in Groot Marico near Zeerust. The plague was officially opened by Zuma on Wednesday. Picture: Molaole Montsho/ANA
There comes a time in the life of every politician when they think about their legacy. They want the world to remember them as noble or brave.
Perhaps that is the reason behind the controversial “Jacob Zuma Monument”, which has just been unveiled in Groot Marico and which commemorates the president’s arrest and detention in 1963, when he was on his way to exile in Botswana.
He eventually served 10 years on Robben Island and later slipped out of the country to join the ANC’s foreign mission.
The monument, which reportedly cost R2 million (down from the hefty initially reported R6 million proposal for a life-size statue of the man), is also supposed to honour those who had to go into exile to pursue the fight against apartheid.
The monument attracted a storm of adverse comment on social media, with many pointing out the irony that Groot Marico was only the “first capture site” for Zuma, the other being the Gupta compound in Saxonwold.
Many also questioned the expenditure, especially in the dirt-poor North West province.
But the reality is that the statue will forever be tainted by Jacob Zuma’s real legacy, that of the man mired in corruption allegations and accused of having sold the country to an Indian family.
No statue or massaging of the history books is going to change the reality that posterity is going to judge Zuma in a very harsh light.
However, Mr President, we have a suggestion which is reminiscent of the parable of the Prodigal Son. Confess, say sorry to South Africa and take your punishment like a man.
That is something people will remember.