This is the problem that remains. Zuma represents the ANC. the figurehead that brought about that Great change in our Beautiful country. However this fact also prevents many of the masses from seeing the truth. It's not about the population anymore, it's not about what's best for the country. it's about power and greed. Unfortunately, men like Zuma use to his benefit the unfortunate situation that the poor people in SA find themselves in, a situation of desperation and frustration due to minimal improvement to their lives, so that he gains support. These brothers and sisters are blinded by his promises that they can't see the truth. IF HE IS INNOCENT, WHY IS HE WORRIED ABOUT THE TRIAL??

A person aspiring to become State President of the most democratic African nation must publicly and repeatedly state his allegiance to the rule of law, or RSA risks becoming the next Zimbabwe with Zuma and his lackeys the next Mugabe and his rag-tab mob of hooligans who have, in Harare and elsewhere taken Zimbabwe over the cliff. For Zuma to encite the simpleminded and the drunken to ignore the rule of law, an essential component in any democracy where no person stands above the law, would be to take RSA back to the days where the law was used as a matter of personal perogative.

Put down the gun Zuma and stop your silly song. Pick up the mantle of a statesman instead of that of a street thug.

The leadership in South Africa does not care about the people, it is corrupt. It is slidding down the slippery slope towards Zimbabwe, and it will hasten if Zuma ever becomes president. My wife loves her country, but we are scared when we visit her family. Police are under funded, corrupt, and can care less when somthing happens. Instead of providing education to the poor, to give them a chance at improvement, the leadership has failed them every stp of the way. Regreatfully Zuma will be like many in other countries and Mbeki to a degree, and try to take from those who have. Turning valuable buisness, jobs, and properties to people whom their goverment has failed to prepare for the responsabilty. Mandella understood the fine line he had to walk, but unfourtunatly those who follow are more concerned about themselves than thier country. Zuma will be the downfall of a beatiful country that has improved leaps and bounds.

Oh, Thanks! Really interesting. Big ups!

The first question is, how did South Africans end up with Zuma? As with many African leaders, Thambo Mbeki did not prepare anyone to succeed him, something Mandela was able to do. Mbeki succeeded Mandela because people like OR Tambo and Mandela himself prepared him in advance. The second question is, what kind of leadership does South Africans want?

i just got the news that, we lost our way as south africans , we careless about law the judiciaciary and all. one day we will look back and think "only if" but it will be too late! i do not hate Zuma but I know as much as any body in south africa and the rest of the world, that the guy is not eligible or even qualified to be a President. And at the moment ANC thinks it is greater than us (south africans) , but the chickens will always come home to roost. they are gonna create anarchy and mayhem because all of them don't have basic education. the truth will always catch up with u Mr. Zuma. and remember You might fool us but you will never ever fool God. (I wish u see this message)

Pres. Mbeki inherited a first-world well-run country, the powerhouse of Africa. During his watch, it has deteriorated into a slum-filled, crime-ridden landscape where some 6million people can't afford a daily meal any longer, unemployment and violent crime are rife and some 7-million people are dying of AIDS AND TB together because of his collapsing health-care system. I hope the next guy can do somewhat better. Mbeki was a top-educated man. One would have thought he would have done better than he did.

I hope readers/viewers will realise the following:The socalled liberation movements that gained power across Africa were not "struggling" for the lofty ideas and values of democracy as understood in the Western culture.They were normal power-hungry organisations and have no history of adhering to time honoured values.
Afiica"sproblems were caused by political"leaders"lacking both in intellect and morals.But they continue to blame everyone else for their own very glaring shortcomings.And the media bought this story for decades.

Ooooh. woe is me. All these (white) South Africans fretting about South Africa's future. Yet a mere 14 years ago they were packing their bags when the white government handed over power in anticipation of the country's downfall – and guess what, in the interim its economic growth has been better than it ever was under a white government. Oh yes, and crime, why doesn't somebody go and take a look at the crime e.g. murder, 14 years ago, it's actually lower now than when a white government last ruled the country. South Africa prosper even under Zuma. Zuma has been cast as illiterate savage, but he's no fool, he has no interest in ruining South Africa. Sometimes I wonder who the real illiterate savages are.

i find it interesting that everybody talks about qualification as if it is prerequisite for good leadership. the fact that zuma does not have the university qualifications does not make him less of a leader. in the usa you have bush with MBA but but no brains. in zimbabwe you have mogabe with 10000 qualification but look where his country is today. i think it is to early to pass judgment on the man we hardly know. For the record whilst most of us where in classroom getting the education this man was strategizing with other members of our liberation movement to free south Africa, he was a foot soldier, he was heading the of intelligence of the anc, he was deputy secretary of the anc, he was the chairman of the kzn province, he was the chairman of the deployment committee of the anc. Now that we have attained the freedom he is not good enough to la leader, it is because we feel that we can articulate in queen’s language better than him?

I was in South Africa in the last 3 weeks and I've followed politics on newspapers and Tv. I'm impressed for the lack of respect of law and justice on the account of Mr Zuma supporters.
I've read of serious riots occured outside the Justice Court, threatening of the judge and the police that investigated on the case. It's a displaying of brute force in a country that has already enough violence.
The satiric cartoon of Zapiro is clear enough about what's going on.
Maybe Mr Zuma is a great leader but nobody care about the alligations of corruption moved on his account.
When will I go under judgement for these alligations ?
And if this wont happen how could a governement be reliable in persecuting corruption that haunt the country ?

Zuma must realize that not everyone likes him. Maybe it is that one thousand and something supporters that voted for him in Polokwane. The ministers a quitting, following the President. ANC will learn a good lesson the rand is going down. We will see who will vote ANC next year.

Succession is very important especially in young democracy. Let those who are in power groom their successor as did Nelson Mandela.

It does not not take a wise man to be voted into power in Africa. Nor does he need to be financially astute, or to be a statesman. His polices on education or health do not matter.

All it takes is to be popular. A confident, charming macho figure such as Jacob Zuma will trump Mbeki any day. Even Zuma's rape, corruption, and arms-deal fraud meanderings have served rather to empower him than bring him to justice. The people look on his dealings with awe and respect, applauding the fact that he is a powerful enough man to tower above even justice.

Here in SA we laugh at the political circus in the USA. We scorn the war-mongering Bush and his ignorant contempt for the world. Yet our own leadership is hardly better. True, we may not be leading the world into senseless war after war, nor are we responsible for global warming, or responsible for global financial melt-down. But still, our own local politicians are causing the suffering of millions, but believing that public office is their gravy-train ticket to self enrichment rather than the opportunity to serve the country.

Long live JZ. yay