Franschhoek Literary Festival

Jacob Zuma plays his cards very close to his chest, something learnt during his days as an intelligence officer in exile.

This is the insight into our new president’s character that Jeremy Gordon, the author of Zuma: A Biography, offered at a discussion entitled “Zuma” during the Franschhoek Literary Festival. Gordon and Fred Khumalo spoke to Peter Harris about what to expect form our new president.

Gordin said that from his experience Zuma is actually very warm and charming. “That is why people like him.”

While ex-president Thabo Mbeki centralised governmental power around him, Khumalo said Zuma can be expected sit back a bit more. He said Zuma is doing this largely because he does not want to make the same mistakes as Mbeki. “This could either work in his favour or boomerang,” he said.

So far Zuma has taken a firm stance on corruption and incompetence, Gordin said, “but we will have to see”.