Zuma Win Plunges South Africa Into Uncertainty

South Africans woke to a new era of political turbulence today after the controversial Jacob Zuma seized control of the ruling African National Congress in a bitter power struggle with his rival Thabo Mbeki, the State President.

Images of a jubilant Mr Zuma embracing Mr Mbeki after the dramatic triumph last night dominated South Africa’s front pages this morning. But the show of friendship belied the acrimony that has festered between the pair since the President dismissed Mr Zuma as his deputy in 2005, resulting in the most divisive leadership contest the normally united ANC has ever seen.

“Zunami rules,” the front page headline of The Sowetan proclaimed, warning of “a new and uncertain political era ... that throws uncertainty on the presidency of the country”.

Others mocked Mr Mbeki, noting that his humiliating defeat had left him a “lame-duck president” whose power would undoubtedly be challenged by Mr Zuma, the leader of the most influential political organisation in the country.

Karima Brown, political editor of Business Day, wrote that Mr Mbeki
woke up today “a man without a political party”.