Jacob Zuma inaugurated as South Africa’s president

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA —  The whistle has blown, the time has come! We’re taking Jacob Zuma to the Union Buildings.

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As rays of sunshine broke through after the morning’s stormy downpour, the dignitaries at Jacob Zuma’s inauguration Saturday in Pretoria leaped to their feet, danced, cheered and ululated as he was sworn in as the president of South Africa.

At the top of their lungs, they sang about Zuma’s ascent to the Union Buildings, South Africa’s presidential residence and seat of government.

The atmosphere reflected Zuma’s earthy populism and his rise from the deepest rural poverty to the nation’s top post.

His supporters in the ruling African National Congress party celebrated his big day, and their defeat of archrival Thabo Mbeki, the former president. When Mbeki arrived, they booed loudly.

The thunder and pouring rain earlier were hailed as blessings in traditional Zulu culture, Zuma’s ethnic group. And for the first time, three wives were present for a South African inauguration, in a powerful symbol of just how different Zuma’s presidency is from the chilly and urbane Mbeki.

Zuma’s relatives told reporters that they planned to slaughter six cattle to celebrate his inauguration.

Analyst Adam Habib described it as the greatest political comeback ever.

“In three years, he choreographed the most phenomenal comeback of anyone, anywhere in the world,” Habib said on independent ETV.

Zuma received the support of the Communist Party, labor unions and the ANC Youth League, which believed they had been shut out by Mbeki, to win the ANC leadership post in December 2007 and topple Mbeki less than a year later. The ANC’s dominance in the National Assembly, which elects the president, almost guarantees the position to the head of the party.

But Zuma had to overcome rape charges in 2006 (he was acquitted) and corruption charges (dropped by prosecutors last month on a technicality) to make his date with destiny.

On Saturday, Zuma had gracious words for Mbeki, belying the ruthless power struggle in the ANC in recent years. But Zuma’s supporters were not all so delicate. Blade Nzimande, the Communist Party secretary-general, said Zuma’s inauguration was a victory over “the evils of abuse of state institutions” in ANC political contests. Zuma’s supporters accuse Mbeki of using state prosecutors in a conspiracy to charge Zuma and derail his presidential bid.

Former President Nelson Mandela, looking frail as he climbed out of the golf cart used to transport him to official occasions, received a deafening welcome at the inauguration. In his inaugural address, Zuma vowed to check poverty, improve education and healthcare and reduce unemployment.

Although his supporters in the unions and Communist Party are looking for more expansionary leftist policies, Zuma has pledged to stick to the ANC’s economic strategy. The global financial crisis leaves him little room to maneuver.

Zuma acknowledged that the country was facing the crunch.

“Jobs are being lost in every economy across the world. We will not be spared the negative impact, and are beginning to feel the pinch,” he said. “However, the foundations of our economy are strong and we will need to continue to build on them. This will require more work than ever before.”

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robyn.dixon@latimes.com