Zuma's triumph

Jacob Zuma is perhaps not the candidate that Western investors and governments would have hand-picked to lead South Africa. But they will get used to it, just as they did with Brazil's Lula and have done with just about everyone recently except Iran's Ahmadinejad. They have also had some time to get used to the idea, given the fact that he has been heir apparent for more than a year.

What may be most disappointing, however, is that Zuma looks like he has seen off any serious opposition even if the African National Congress doesn't get the two-thirds parliamentary control it needs to change the constitution (still up in the air). Not that a change is likely -- the ANC has had two-thirds since it took power and not destroyed anything yet. 

The bigger issue is that the ANC is retaining its role as the only party of power nationally. This is a pity because South Africa needs to move away from the "liberation party" syndrome that bunches everyone in one group because of an overriding goal.

That goal has been met in South Africa. It now needs for politics to break up and create not just a vibrant democracy but one that has plenty of dissidents.