Jacob Zuma attributes youthfulness to ‘being a good person’

Despite his protestations of feeling energetic, Mr Zuma has had an exhausting
year doing battle with the West over its decision to take military action in
Libya, and tussling with President Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe over the need
for reforms before new elections.

But the biggest challenges facing the polygamous Zulu president are at home.

Julius Malema, the outspoken ANC Youth League leader expelled from the party
over indiscipline, has denounced him as a “dictator” and vowed to
have him replaced at the party’s elective conference in December.

Earlier this month Mr Malema’s preferred candidate, Vice-President Kgalema
Motlanthe, shared a stage with him in what was seen as his first salvo in a
challenge to Mr Zuma.

The ANC leadership has also found itself increasingly under attack from church
and business leaders who have questioned its capacity to improve South
Africans’ lot.

Now too, the president is facing new questions over his involvement in South
Africa’s
shady 1999 arms deal after a court ordered a judicial
review of the decision by the National Prosecuting Authority to drop
corruption charges against him shortly before he came to power.

William Gumede, a political analyst and author, said Mr Zuma could be forgiven
for feeling “under siege”.

“The chinks in his armour are beginning to show and he is coming under
attack from many sides within the party and outside it,” he said. “But
he has been down and out before and knows how to fight. Unlike those before
him, Zuma will not just give up and leave.”

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