/ 14 August 2009

‘He makes time to listen to people’

President Jacob Zuma’s ability to win over crowds is based on his talent for placing himself firmly among them — either with self-deprecating homespun tales or with homilies.

At Durban’s Albert Luthuli Convention Centre last weekend 1 500 school principals gathered to hear their president, who began with a story of how, as “one of those disadvantaged people who never went to school”, teachers nevertheless had a profound effect on him.

Zuma reminisced that on one Sunday morning “as a young boy in rural Nkandla pushing a bicycle rim with a stick — which was a car to us”, he encountered a crisply dressed teacher who buckled at the knees and fell to the ground, vomiting. “Teachers influenced me not to drink alcohol,” he said.

The point was sharp, delivered with humour and emphasised with bits of physical theatre. The principals loved it. And they got the message.

The prepared speech will never be his forte, but speaking off the cuff is — especially in isiZulu, when he dwells on rural folk philosophy meeting hard-nosed reality.

If storytelling is what opens people up to Zuma it’s also what allows South Africans a glimpse into their president — jocular, empathetic, but with a streak of social conservatism that must make progressives cringe.

Early in his election campaign Zuma proposed the forced separation of single, teenage mothers from their children, but was quickly reined in to sing from a pre-prepared ANC hymnbook. But it may be harder to rein in a sitting president.

Responding to issues raised by principals last weekend he agreed that sex, drugs and violence on television caused similar behaviour in schools. “Our intelligentsia itself is part of the problem,” he said. “They can’t write anything that is not commercial.”

It struck a chord with the audience, who applauded as heartily as when one from within their ranks suggested bringing back corporal punishment.

Part of his popularity is based on his attempt to meet as many sections of society as possible.

The day of the principals’ meeting he met Hillary Clinton, had a meeting at the city hall and attended a tombstone unveiling for ANC stalwarts, a faith gathering in Umgababa, the inaugural International Jacob Zuma Matsushima Karate Cup and a gala dinner.

“He’s always agreeing to meet people and adding to the diary. And he makes time to listen to people, so we always end up running late,” said one harassed-looking aide.