South Africa: Bittersweet victory for Zuma and Winnie’s Return

On Tuesday 18th December, Jacob Zuma won an at times bitter election battle with Thabo Mbeki for the presidency of the African National Congress (ANC). Zuma’s joy was short lived as a week later he was charged with corruption relating to arms dealing with the French. Zuma's Lawyer Michael Hulley said the charges involved were "various counts of racketeering, money laundering, corruption and fraud." A trial date has been set for 14 August 2008, which will undoubtedly impede Zuma’s ambitions of becoming South Africa’s next president; Mbeki must stand down on completion of his second turn as president in 2009.

The ANC elections also saw a welcomed returned to politics for the much-loved ‘Mother of the Nation’ Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who had resigned from parliament and the ANC in 2003. Winnie Mandela’s popularity had not waned in any way during her absence, as she finished in first place, topping the list of the new 80 member ANC National Executive Committee, polling some 2845 votes; more than 500 more votes than Zuma received to win the presidency.