President Jacob Zuma has smoked the peace pipe with one of his most prominent critics, Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

President Jacob Zuma has smoked the peace pipe with one of his most prominent critics, Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Zuma told the media yesterday that he had met Tutu on Wednesday after the Archbishop had initiated the meeting.

"The archbishop asked for us to meet and I agreed," said Zuma.

Tutu had been critical of Zuma's suitability as the country's president, questioning his moral probity.

At some stage the Archbishop said he was ashamed of the fact that Zuma was going to be SA's president.

Tutu questioned Zuma's morality after the then ANC deputy president confessed to having had unprotected sex with an HIV-positive young woman.

Zuma was found not guilty of the rape charge laid against him by the woman.

Zuma also announced yesterday that the presidential hotline he had touted during his electioneering would start working from next month.

Members of the public can phone the hotline to lodge complaints directly with the Presidency.

Zuma said posts for staff to run the hotline were advertised last week.

An upbeat Zuma also assured the South African public that, contrary to perceptions, his government was in charge.

"We are generally pleased with the situation. We have put the political tensions behind us and basically the centre is holding," he said.

Zuma said he was satisfied that the new Parliament, which he described as an "activist parliament", would keep his government on its toes.