PRETORIA—Jacob Zuma was sworn in as president of South Africa on Saturday after a remarkable political comeback, taking over a faltering economy plagued by crime, poverty and AIDS.
Zuma, 67, taking the oath of office was unthinkable during turbulent years when graft and rape charges nearly ruined him, crises that might have buried many politicians.
Former South African leader Nelson Mandela attended the presidential inauguration ceremony on Saturday, in a huge political coup for Zuma.
A frail-looking Mandela, 90, was transported in a golf cart and then helped on to the stage just before Zuma was sworn in. He arrived to thousands of cheering supporters.
At the top of Zuma's agenda will be navigating Africa's biggest economy through what could already be its first recession in 17 years.
The charismatic politician won a wide mandate to lead with a ruling African National Congress (ANC) landslide victory in the April 22 election.
South Africans respect the ANC for its long anti-apartheid struggle but they are growing impatient with a number of problems which Zuma has promised to tackle.
One of his big challenges will be juggling the interests of investors and union and communist allies who want more government spending on the millions still living in abject poverty 15 years after the end of apartheid.
Investors are eager to see who forms his economic team and are especially interested in the fate of respected Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, praised for his fiscal management.
They fear Zuma's union and communist allies who helped him rise to the top will demand payback in the form of more government spending on the poor.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the swearing in ceremony, Manuel expressed confidence in Zuma's abilities.
"Frequently people look for experience. But what matters is attitude and aptitude," he said.
"The mood is very buoyed. Feeling very strong. There's a big wave to ride."
Stacking the government, to be named on Sunday, with loyalists could hurt the credibility of Zuma, who has said ANC officials should not expect positions just because of their loyalty.
Policy decisions
Mike Davies, Middle East & Africa analyst at political risk consulting firm, Eurasia Group, predicts Zuma will be pragmatic."Leftists are unlikely to be given portfolios of key concern to investors," said Davies.
The mood was festive in Pretoria as foreign heads of state began arriving.
ANC supporters, dressed in Zuma t-shirts, dresses and hats, danced in circles and shouted hymns outside the Union Buildings, the official seat of South Africa's government where Zuma will be sworn in.
"I am extremely happy. Zuma will give us houses, fight corruption and crime. We got here, we voted for him and we expect him to fight for South Africa," said supporter Mirriam Segabutla Other were cautious.
"Zuma has to change a lot of things because we voted for him. He can't afford to disappoint us," said Barbara Nkadimeng.
His political career has been fraught with crises.
Zuma battled graft charges for eight years which were dropped just before the election on a technicality. He was acquitted in a rape trial in 2006 but his image still suffers.
Zuma has said he will consult widely before making major policy decisions, an approach that may ease opposition fears the new administration will stifle dissent. He wants to be seen as moderate, especially at a time of economic uncertainty.
But Zuma may have to accommodate allies like firebrand ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, who said ahead of the inauguration the ANC was indebted to the working class.
"We are going to be very critical of this government. Where things go right, we'll give them our thumbs up. Where things go according to our own views, contrary to what we believe in, we'll raise our voice," he told reporters at the ceremony.
Zuma, who has three wives and 19 children, is known for his mediation skills, which could help him prevent ANC power struggles which led dissidents to form a breakaway party.
He was jailed for 10 years under apartheid before going into exile and heading up the ANC's intelligence, struggle credentials that helped his rise to the presidency.
"We have to give Zuma a chance. He must prove that he knows where he's coming from, he must remember the days when he joined the ANC as a young man," said Jabulile Hadebe, a mother of four wearing earrings covered with images of Zuma.
"He knows what he wants and he's not afraid of fire. That's what makes him strong and encourages people like me."
