Among the political careers that have most quickly taken to the

skies during Jacob Zuma’s presidency have been two in particular, both

equally compelling but in very different ways.


Among the political careers that have most quickly taken to the skies during Jacob Zuma’s presidency have been two in particular, both equally compelling but in very different ways.


One is Tokyo Sexwale, back in mainstream politics after a successful foray as an empowerment baron. He loves to use publicity stunts that were the hallmark of his premiership in Gauteng after the first democratic elections in 1994. A recent gimmick was the night he spent in the Diepsloot squatter camp outside Johannesburg, the site of protracted service-delivery protests, to experience the plight of the residents first-hand.


Although carrying the rather mystifying title of minister of human settlements, Sexwale is not only one of his country’s wealthiest individuals, but he also sponsored the South African version of the television reality game show, The Apprentice. 


The other high-flier is Julius Sello Malema, ANC Youth League leader and vocal political commentator, frequently parodied for his ‘reckless utterances’. He has stirred a hornet’s nest, within and without the party, using tactics not dissimilar to those of former youth leader Peter Mokaba or of the notorious Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Malema is seen as a kingmaker within the the ANC Youth League. His bravado and brinkmanship have seen him raise such issues as the nationalisation of the mines and the dominance of minority groups in the government’s economic management.


Cutting his teeth as a Student Representative Council president at one of the Limpopo province’s highly politicised schools – Mohlakaneng in the Seshego township outside Polokwane – Malema later presided over the ANC-aligned student wing, the Congress of South African Students.