THIS past weekend marked exactly a year since President Jacob Zuma was sworn in as fourth democratically elected president of the Republic of South Africa.
A lot has happened during this time in politics and in government - some good, some bad.
There will always be varying opinions on Zuma's first year in office. There is no denying that his private life has dominated the news for all the wrong reasons. It has been used in some instances to discredit him as leader.
Personally, I believe he is not doing a bad job running the country.
His rise to power meant that many people felt he owed them a favour once he was in office, but he seems to be slowly gaining control of the middle ground.
His political authority has been tested even in his own party by the ANC Youth League and Cosatu.
He has done a good job showing them that they must separate the party from the state. Things in government will not happen when they want them to happen and the way they want them to happen. There is protocol to follow and the president has drawn a clear line between the state and the party. I hope it will remain like this for the rest of his term.
On the other hand, there has been many challenges to his leadership style. His door-to-door campaigns in communities have backfired because of his unfulfilled promises. Examples are Balfour in Mpumalanga and the Winnie Mandela squatter camp in Tembisa.
He went there to listen to people's problems and promised them quick solutions. When that did not happen in the prescribed time, the communities tended to react in a violent way, given that none other than the president promised them speedy services. But all is not lost.
I hope Zuma sees out his four years and I have no doubt he and his team will lead us to good governance and a better life for all, as envisaged in the national democratic revolution.
On a score of 10 , I give Zuma 6,5.
Kiekie Mboweni, NkowaNkowa
Zuma has done well so far
THIS past weekend marked exactly a year since President Jacob Zuma was sworn in as fourth democratically elected president of the Republic of South Africa.
A lot has happened during this time in politics and in government - some good, some bad.
There will always be varying opinions on Zuma's first year in office. There is no denying that his private life has dominated the news for all the wrong reasons. It has been used in some instances to discredit him as leader.
Personally, I believe he is not doing a bad job running the country.
His rise to power meant that many people felt he owed them a favour once he was in office, but he seems to be slowly gaining control of the middle ground.
His political authority has been tested even in his own party by the ANC Youth League and Cosatu.
He has done a good job showing them that they must separate the party from the state. Things in government will not happen when they want them to happen and the way they want them to happen. There is protocol to follow and the president has drawn a clear line between the state and the party. I hope it will remain like this for the rest of his term.
On the other hand, there has been many challenges to his leadership style. His door-to-door campaigns in communities have backfired because of his unfulfilled promises. Examples are Balfour in Mpumalanga and the Winnie Mandela squatter camp in Tembisa.
He went there to listen to people's problems and promised them quick solutions. When that did not happen in the prescribed time, the communities tended to react in a violent way, given that none other than the president promised them speedy services. But all is not lost.
I hope Zuma sees out his four years and I have no doubt he and his team will lead us to good governance and a better life for all, as envisaged in the national democratic revolution.
On a score of 10 , I give Zuma 6,5.
Kiekie Mboweni, NkowaNkowa
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