By IANS
Abu Dhabi : A bitter power struggle between President Thabo Mbeki and his former deputy, Jacob Zuma, for control of the ruling African National Congress has galvanised public opinion in South Africa, a UAE English Daily said Saturday.
Commenting on a South African court ruling that opened the way for Zuma to be charged with corruption over a multi-billion dollar weapons deal, the Dubai-based Gulf News said: “The timing of the ruling is important as it comes six weeks before the African National Congress (ANC) leadership election in which Zuma, a former political prisoner on Robben Island alongside Nelson Mandela, appears to be the only candidate capable of defeating Mbeki.”
“Zuma faces more investigations into bribery allegations and this is bound to have an adverse effect on his campaign as the favoured candidate to unseat Mbeki to be virtually assured of becoming the country’s president in 2009,” the Gulf News said according to news agency WAM.
Describing the climate as “a political theatre of the highest degree”, the paper cautions that serious issues are being ignored.
“It is now more than 13 years since Mandela became ANC president and while great advances have been made there are still too many reminders that poverty is an undefeated scourge.”