‘I’m in charge of South Africa’ Zuma tells critics

South African president Jacob Zuma has hit back at critics of his leadership, saying that he and not African National Congress Youth League front-man Julius Malema is in control of the continent’s biggest economy.

Factional fighting in the ANC has put Mr Zuma at odds with the outspoken Mr Malema, who analysts and party sources say is seeking to oust the president ahead of internal elections scheduled for 2012.

Speaking at a business breakfast in Johannesburg, Mr Zuma said: “We don’t think Malema is in charge. He is not. The ANC is in charge in terms of the country. The government of this country is in charge. It’s as clear as that.”

Mr Malema – who wants to nationalise mines in the world’s largest platinum producer and seize white-owned farmland – was instrumental in Mr Zuma’s rise to power but has switched allegiance as his radical policy agenda has fallen on deaf ears.