South Africa

CAPE TOWN - The National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA's) decision to drop charges against African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma was a tipping point that could lead to the erosion of the rule of law, warns a senior advocate. Constitutional law expert Wim Trengove SC says that the decision of acting NPA chief Mokotedi Mpshe (pictured) was based largely on peripheral considerations, such as issues relating to the timing of the prosecution. Trengove says that Mpshe had not sufficiently weighed up public interest in seeing justice done, particularly regarding those alleged to have abused public office. When determining whether the case had been "fatally infected" by manipulation, Mpshe should also have determined whether this contamination outweighed the public interest in seeing justice done.

JOHANNESBURG -African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma has emerged as South Africa's favourite politician, followed by Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille, among people questioned in a pre-election survey conducted by Ipsos Markinor. Their ratings out of 10, given by the people likely to vote, were 6,5 and 4,3 respectively, followed by Congress of the People (Cope) president Mosiuoa Lekota at 4,1 and Patricia de Lille at 3,9 out of 10. The Socio-Political Trends survey shows that Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi scored 3,4, Bantu Holomisa of the United Democratic Movement 3,3, Kenneth Meshoe of the African Christian Democratic Party 3, and Pieter Mulder of the Freedom Front Plus 2,7 out of 10. The researchers explained that it was necessary to view the ratings from the perspective of the different population groups in South Africa because each party has a unique supporter profile. In contrast to likely black voters who favour Zuma (7,7 out of 10), the other population groups are more varied in terms of the political party leaders that they favour. White potential voters mostly favour Zille (7,8 out of 10) and least favour Zuma (1,9 out of 10). This same trend is apparent among coloured potential voters, whereby Zille is perceived as most favourable (6,7 out of 10), although she is slightly less favourable among white potential voters. Zuma is least favourable (3 out of 10).

JOHANNESBURG - Research shows that international media coverage of South Africa has improved since Thabo Mbeki's axing, despite negative reports on President-to-be Jacob Zuma. Wadim Schreiner, MD of international media research company Media Tenor, explains that media coverage of South Africa was more negative than positive throughout 2008. Since Mbeki's recall from office, however, the coverage has been greatly improving, despite quite extensive coverage of political issues and the fraud and corruption charges against Zuma. The media is generally able to distinguish between the South African government and South African people, says Schreiner. The country generally gets positive coverage on the business and social fronts, but "it is usually actions by the government that are pulling [international reports] down".

CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) has made serious mistakes on public service deployment, black economic empowerment and land reform that must be corrected after the elections, says ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa. He says the party is aware that in the creation of a postapartheid public service, "there was not an even hand" and that this triggered a brain drain that hampered delivery. The next administration will reward public servants who deliver, and penalise those who do not perform. Likewise, Phosa says that land reform policy has often failed to achieve its aims, notably in Limpopo province, because the beneficiaries were not given the help they needed to cultivate land.

Africa & the world

HARARE - A Zimbabwean constitutional lobby group has rejected Parliament's lead role in writing a new charter, demanding that an independent commission oversee the process that many hope will guarantee free and fair future elections. A new Constitution was a key demand of the Movement for Democratic Change for joining a unity government with President Robert Mugabe, who, critics say, has rigged polls in the last ten years to stay in power.