JACOB ZUMA - IN THIS SECOND PART OF A RADIO FEATURE THE ANC LEADER PROMISES A VIBRANT ECONOMY AND BETTER LIFE FOR ALL

LIFE OF PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA - JUST BEFORE TAKING OFFICE IN 2009 ZUMA PLEDGES TO CREATE A HEALTHY ECONOMY AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE BY SUBRY GOVENDER President Jacob Zuma, who is facing strong and loud calls for him to step down from office, has had a rich struggle history. In April 2009, just before he was elected as President after the political coup against President Thabo Mbeki, I interviewed Zuma about his life and struggles and his plans for the country. His climb to the President’s office in 2009 followed after the fraud and corruption charges against him were withdrawn by the Public Prosecutor at that time, Mokotedi Mpshe. Born in April 1942, Zuma came across in the interview as a humble leader who experienced the life of poverty, deprivation and denial of human rights. He promised that he would work in the interests of the people. He rejected claims that people joined the ANC to enrich themselves. He was confident that under his leadership, the country would be a better place for all with an improved social order and a thriving economy. Today, seven years later, Zuma is not only facing wide-scale condemnation and criticism but the Pretoria High Court ruled last Friday (March 30 2016) that the withdrawal of charges against him was “irrational”. In this second part of the radio feature you would be able to judge for yourself whether Zuma had lived up to his pledge to uplift the lives of the “common people”: