Jacob Zuma

By Barnaby Phillips in Africa on September 24th, 2010
Photo: AFP

These are turbulent times for  South Africa’s governing ANC party.

It’s just ended a five-day mid-term review in Durban. Officially, the conference was meant to be looking at progress in implementing resolutions adopted at earlier meetings. In reality, the ANC is far from united, and policy differences are often a smokescreen as different factions jostle for power.

Many people in the ANC are unhappy with President Jacob Zuma; they see his leadership as weak and indecisive, and they’re reluctant to give him a second-term in office. So this was an important occasion for him, a chance to reassert his leadership.

Initially, I felt he did well. I was in the hall when he gave his opening address. When Zuma said the jostling for succession must stop, most delegates applauded and cheered.

By Jane Dutton in Africa on June 7th, 2010
Fans cheering in Moruleng. (AFP)

What an amazing vibe. My city, Johannesburg, festooned in a blaze of colour; flags on cars, around cars, on people’s heads, flag sellers painted as African masks.

South Africa is full of national pride.

It's an unusual sensation for this country of mine that is consumed with rampant crime, spiraling corruption, Jacob Zuma’s seemingly endless brood of children, potholes and electricity blackouts suddenly obsessing with placing flags on their cars like diplomats, debating the pros and cons of the noisy vavuzela trumpet, (as I write this I can hear one blaring, tunelessly in the background) unrealistically positive about the home-team Bafana Bafana’s success, hooting their horns, laughing, everyone smiling!

Even verkrampte tannies (conservative ladies) are seen wearing football shirts of the mainly black national team. It’s the World Cup - the very first one on African soil.

And the mood is contagious.

By Haru Mutasa in Africa on February 3rd, 2010

South African president Jacob Zuma has admitted to fathering his 20th child – out of wedlock. After days of speculation on whether he really was the father, he finally issued a statement laying the facts on the table.

Zuma is a controversial political figure and his love life is a hot topic of discussion on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. 

So is it really anyone’s business how many wives or how many children the man has? Are his extra curricula activities really that big a deal when it comes to running South Africa?

By Haru Mutasa in Africa on February 2nd, 2010
EPA photo

A Chinese company is considering making dolls of the controversial South African president Jacob Zuma, a media report says.

By Haru Mutasa in Africa on January 26th, 2010
Photo by EPA
It seems President Jacob Zuma’s party; the African National Congress (ANC) is more concerned with launching a clothing line than attending to people problems.
ANC leather jackets launched earlier this week could be a hit in South Africa.
The jackets come in black, green and gold - colours representing one of Africa’s oldest revolutionary parties.
To give them that "glam" look the leather jackets have electric green patches for pockets, brightly coloured buttons, neon yellow zips, all topped off with the party's logo of a wheel, spear and shield.
They look like they'll glow in dark!
The cheapest - made from "genuine leather" - cost $217, while the most expensive $267.
By Haru Mutasa in Africa on January 24th, 2010
Photo by Getty Images

A London-based security clothing company has been lambasted by the South African government and some South Africans for marketing a "stab-proof vest" for football fans planning to visit the World Cup in June this year.

The idea is that tourists order one of these vests online and it is delivered to their hotel room once they get to South Africa. They then wear them to the stadiums or even walking on the streets – just in case something happens to them.

According to South African police figures, there were 18,148 murders in the year ending March 2009 and knives or sharp objects were used in about 52 percent of the deaths. No wonder foreigners are so edgy about crime in South Africa.

Criminal controversy

Back home here, the issue of crime again reared its ugly head. Here’s a brief synopsis of the furore that’s causing waves in SA.

Al Jazeera Live

What's Hot


Recent Comments

This work is licensed under Creative Commons. Please read our attribution policy.