[from our South African correspondent]

December 19, 2007 (LPAC)--Yesterday, Jacob Zuma won the African National Congress presidential elections. He defeated the current president, Thabo Mbeki, who is also the president of South Africa. This means that barring any mishap or death, Jacob Zuma will succeed Thabo Mbeki as the president of South Africa, following national elections in 2009.

The situation presents a moment of danger and also opportunity for South Africa. The danger is that the BAE-linked Tokyo Sexwale, or people like him, will become the power behind the throne. On the other hand there is a tremendous revival of the aspirations of the masses which was represented in the high participation in the election.

The financial oligarchs are behind Zuma. In the past three weeks Zuma went to America and London where he was feted by these financial oligarchs. He was being prepared for his ascendancy to power. He was even quoted attacking Robert Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe, at one meeting at Wits university.

In terms of policy, Zuma has none. All he wants is to be the president. For the masses, people on the ground, he has brought to a halt the supremacy of the Xhosas over the other clans. Even the Inkatha Freedom party, is happy about Zuma's win simply because he is Zulu.

With a pending criminal case of fraud and corruption against him, we don't know whether Zuma will not end up indicted before the national elections, so we don't yet know how things will unfold.