The elections are over, and the slogan ‘JGM Zuma for President’ is history. This election stirred up passions, and many abroad have wondered how we could have voted in such large numbers for Zuma. Here is my story.


Let me take Zuma’s name first. ‘Jacob’ we know. But what about the ‘G’? It stands for Gedleyihlekisa, meaning ‘one who is crafty when faced with conniving people’ or ‘one who is cunning’. Then the ‘M’. This is for Mhlanganyelwa, meaning ‘one who is attacked by everyone, from all fronts’. How appropriate! Zuma has been attacked on all fronts, but he has been crafty, and here he is, the President of our country. If he had gone to court, a lot of other high-powered characters would have gone down with him and I am not sure our country could have stood that. Thank God that is over and we can move on.


A poet from Zuma’s home village of Nkandla has written words which roughly translate as follows: ‘Those who sent hunting dogs to finish you [Zuma] off, those hounds turned on your attackers instead... Yes, there were two bulls, one that was ready to attack you down back to oppression... using weapons that are made of shields designed for cowards... an attack turned to an advantageous aromatic flavour for you, bestowing on us as guitarists and poets a good reason to hail your victory.’


Today, we in South Africa are a liberated nation, but it has been a hard battle. Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela before him laid a solid foundation for reconciliation and liberation in our country. Importantly, they brought women into power and this tradition continues. There will be four ANC women provincial premiers serving under Zuma.



Zuma is continuing his predecessors’ efforts at transformation. Indeed, I voted ANC to help accomplish my life-time goal of eradicating racism in our country. We all want security and safety in our lives, and the ANC is waging that struggle as we sing with Zuma ‘awuleth umshini’ (‘Bring my machine gun’). Back during apartheid, machine guns were needed to fight the system, and we used them. But now, the machine we are handing Comrade Zuma is a different one, one that can consolidate our goals and improve our lives.



When I voted ANC, I was not just voting Zuma because he is proudly Zulu, as am I. That would be to undermine my intelligence. But I do celebrate that the ANC has triumphed in KwaZulu-Natal against the Inkatha Freedom Party and believe Zuma played a vital role in this, perhaps finally convincing the world that not all Zulus are chauvinist tribalists prepared to engage in ‘black on black’ killings.


The ANC is a collective. It fired Mbeki, and it can fire Zuma if he does not deliver as expected. As for all the breakaway parties, like the Pan Africanist Congress, Inkatha and the Congress of the People, well, all the best to them. That is democracy and it helped motivate me to wear a Zuma t-shirt. It caused a stir and frown from ANC-foes but not for the 65% who voted ANC.


In fact, since the 1994 vote, I have never felt so positive and determined as an ANC supporter. It did not matter to me that the ANC did not reach a two-thirds majority. Our victory was great anyway. I salute Mbeki who did great work despite his faults, and I love the fact that the ANC is able to admit weaknesses and make changes where necessary.


I live in a predominantly white village near Cape Town, where most people voted for the opposition. My t-shirt seems to stir their paranoia. One neighbour said I had Zumified my chest. I answered that I had ANC’d my vote! I saw no reason to keep it a secret. Even if Zuma is a sinner, as it is alleged, are we not taught to condemn the sin but love the sinner? I am not committed to agreeing with everything Zuma does, just as I did not with Mbeki. But as with other ANC voters, I proudly saluted the comrade with my X. I do not feel guilty for being in the family of the ANC. Every family has dirty linen. We are washing ours and moving on. 

Lindiwe Mthembu is a South African writer and journalist