Presidentertainer

Press nickname for Jacob Zuma – head of the African National Congress.

Despite being the subject of a (recently dropped) corruption investigation, Jacob Zuma looks likely to become South Africa’s next president. “Alternately charming and prickly, comfortable in a tailored suit or tribal dress,” according to The Times, Zuma “is arguably South Africa’s most adept politician.”

Observing that Zuma has been “an entertainer, singer and dancer to wow his audience, but then going for the formal approach at gala dinners,” South Africa’s Indpendent Online reported:

His was a chameleon campaign, trying to be everything to everyone – from reassuring business that there will be no policy shifts but talking about a pro-poor policy to the workers, then appearing as a deep traditionalist in rural KwaZulu-Natal but donning a dapper suit at business dinners and approaching religion with sensitivity.

Writing from Soweto for The Independent, Daniel Howden said that “most ordinary people are not overly concerned with the endless corruption charges”:

Far from being an electoral liability for the ANC, the Zulu showman is recognised as the “Presidentertainer” as one popular newspaper dubbed him this weekend.

In November 2008, The Times of South Africa accompanied an article on “the singing, dancing, praying ANC president” with the headline “Zuma’s campaign cabaret.”