Future Now
The IFTF Blog
JZ takes office – South Africa
Jacob Zuma, popularly known as JZ, was sworn in as the 4th president of South Africa on May 9th 2009.
Looking back on his life, it may come as a bit of a surprise. A mere four years ago Jacob Zuma was battling allegations of both rape and corruption. Although he was acquitted from the rape charge, his corruption—involving a controversial $5 billion arms deal in 1999—case was less cut and dry. Just weeks before the election however, a National Prosecution Authority threw out the case after finding evidence that suggested political interference. In addition to these 2 lawsuits, Zuma sparked a fierce power struggle within the ANC (African National Congress) as he took control in December 2007 and pushed the ANC to fire Mbeki as head of state 9 months later, ultimately sparking the breakaway faction of the ANC, COPE (Congress of the People).
Raised by a widowed mother with no formal education, Zuma joined the military wing of the ANC at 17. He was later accused of conspiring to overthrow the apartheid government and spent 10 years in Robin Island alongside Nelson Mandela. Zuma was among the first ANC members to return to South Africa after the ANC ban was lifted in 1990. Upon his return to South Africa, Zuma began negotiations with the minority white government.
Jacob Zuma is a populist president, with much support from the labor unions and the communist party. When he takes the stage he is often seen singing and dancing, a practice he took with him from Robin Island where he often raised the spirit of fellow prisoners through song and short plays. A man of the people, he is expected to redistribute South Africa’s wealth to the poor. Some people however, worry that his populism could go too far. His continued use of the apartheid era anthem – “Umshini Wami” (Bring Me My Machine Gun) has caused some concern.
In his inaugural speech on Sunday May 9th Zuma thanked Mandela for setting South Africa on the right track through reconciliation and promised to continue on this path. "We must forge a partnership for reconstruction, development and progress. In this partnership there is a place for all South Africans, black and white," he said.
Zuma went on to speak about the chance to be new, to use South Africa’s history as a springboard for the coming years, “We gather here determined that the struggles and sacrifices of our people over many decades shall not be in vain. Instead, they shall inspire us to complete the task for which so much blood was shed, and so much hardship endured. This is a moment of renewal.”
In his first few days in office, Zuma has been busy appointing new ministers. A Reuters article speak quite humorously of South Africa’s habit of appointing ministers with little to no experience within the very ministry they are to reside.
“Siphiwe Nyanda, the newly appointed minister of communications, has been a military man, yet outside the African National Congress (ANC) and defence he is something of a mystery. He now takes over communications, a crucial ministry with oversight of Telkom, Africa’s biggest telecoms firm.
Dipuo Peters qualified in social work, but has been chosen to lead the energy ministry and help tackle the country’s power shortages that have led to a five-day shutdown of South Africa’s mining industry and crippled the country’s investor-friendly image.
“It appears this is South Africa’s tradition to appoint a minister who has no technical qualifications whatsoever,” said independent analyst Andrew Kenny.
Barbara Hogan, who has led the health ministry for the past six months, has been moved to oversee the public enterprise department, also in charge of sorting out structural problems at state-owned utility Eskom, which now supplies some 95 percent of the country’s power…
Zuma appointed Susan Shabangu, who has only held deputy ministerial positions before, as mining minister in the world’s top source of platinum and No. 3 gold producer. She came to prominence as deputy security minister last year when she advised police dealing with criminals: “You must kill the bastards if they threaten you or the community. You must not worry about the regulations.”
South Africa has been a consistently strong voice within the Global South (GS). As we see the GS becoming a bigger and bigger player within the previously Global North dominated world, let's hope Zuma helps South Africa reach it's full potential as a continued leader within Africa and the rest of the world.