Politics of failure — Panyaza Lesufi’s populism may be running out of runway

As a result of the huge realignment in our politics, many people find themselves in, um, interesting positions. Only a few, however, find themselves in a position even remotely as complicated as the one the Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi oscillates in these days. He faces an electorate with almost no residual faith in his party, the party’s national leaders oppose some of his biggest choices, and perhaps even a divided ANC in his province. All of this with local elections coming soon. You’d be forgiven for feeling he may soon be running out of runway.