Imagine you were corrupt, and imagine you were a politician. But I repeat myself.

Jacob Zuma, the women-abusing, criminal thug darling of the African National Congress, has become the new president of the ANC. Since, in South Africa, it is the party which runs the country (rather than, in more civilised lands, where elected politicians run the country) this – effectively – puts Zuma in charge.

The Scorpions are South Africa’s elite police service, a version of the US FBI. They are tasked with tackling corruption at the highest levels. They are about to file criminal proceedings against Zuma on bribery charges related to the government’s multi-billion Dollar arms deal scandal.

The first act of Zuma is to scrap the Scorpions. The unit is to be disbanded within months.

Note that this is a decision of the ANC – not parliament. Rather like the Republicans deciding that the FBI are getting too close and shutting the organisation down without going through Congress.

More interestingly is who is the king behind the thrown throne. Most commentators (including your humble servant, esq) agree that Zuma is too dumb to swallow his own saliva. So the real power rests in his newly elected deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe. Two years ago a bank set up by the ANC – the Land Bank – aimed at providing loans to aspirant farmers lent 40% of its total equity – R 800 million – to one company. That company “lost” the lot. The primary shareholder in that company? Ah, yes, that would be Motlanthe. To date no-one has had to answer in any way for this bit of corruption.

Run Forrest, Run.