Many observers say he was slow to condemn the xenophobic attacks that spread across South Africa in May, when foreigners were beaten, burned and killed -- even though the machete-wielding thugs were singing his campaign song, "Awuleth'Umshini Wami" (Bring Me My Machine Gun). He later said they had misused the song.
Zuma said nothing when his supporters in the ANC Youth League threatened the judiciary and said they were ready to "kill for Zuma."
He and his allies are at the heart of the ANC's move to disband the Scorpions, the country's most effective force for fighting corruption and organized crime, which charged him with corruption, graft and racketeering. The charges were thrown out by a judge Sept. 12 on a technicality, but their substance has not been tested.
He is also criticized for telling audiences what they want to hear, delivering different messages to businessmen, unions and the Zulu audiences he addresses in Zulu. The Financial Mail's editor has called him "the ultimate chameleon."
"He's not been seen in the past as a visionary," said Gumede, the political analyst and author.
"I think a danger with Zuma is that populism, telling everybody what they want to hear. Because at some point you are going to have to make decisions and some people are going to be disappointed."
If Motlanthe does a good job, unites the party and is popular with voters, it could be a big risk to swap him for a controversial populist dogged by corruption allegations.
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robyn.dixon@latimes.com
