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SA Election 2009 Special Report
NEWS
ANC holding key NEC meeting
The ANC is holding its quarterly NEC meeting, to discuss the outcome of the elections and how to implement its election manifesto.
FEATURES
Cabinet to tackle Zuma pledges
Analysts say the new Cabinet matches President Jacob Zuma's pledges to smash poverty and boost development, but enormous challenges remain.
MULTIMEDIA
INTERACTIVE
Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma and an entourage of Cabinet ministers took a break from government business on Thursday to field a battery of questions from 16 schoolgirls.
As part of the "take a girl child to work" day, Zuma hosted the girls at the presidential guesthouse in Pretoria where he was taken to task on what his new administration was going to do for young women.
Looking relaxed, Zuma sat in a chair flanked by deputy president Kgalema Molanthe and charmed the girls with humour and ease.
Referring to what it was like being the president, Zuma laughed and said perhaps the question should be deferred to Motlanthe as he had occupied the position longer.
"How is it? It's a huge task. It takes a lot that people of this country can trust you to head a government.
"We are still developing [as a country] the difficulties are not easy - but we have these ministers and the deputy president. They are very capable - sometimes we hide behind them."
Presidents 'were both in prison'
When asked what it took to be a president or deputy, Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale quipped: "I want to warn the children that both of them have been to prison."
Ministers were also in the firing line with Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies having to respond to how the country was dealing with the financial crisis.
"The bad news is that we are in a recession. The crisis is not of our making but we believe that we will be able to safeguard our economy in the long term."
Zuma's personal life was also not left out in the cold, and even some media were surprised by his hobbies.
"I love sport, all sports I enjoy. I enjoy table tennis very nicely. I also sit with my little ones and we talk about everything under the sun."
Crime capital?
One little girl told Zuma she was very honoured to meet him but said she was concerned that South Africa had the highest crime rate in the world.
"Oh, okay. Firstly I'm not sure that we are number one," he said softly, adding that crime was a priority, one that the Cabinet had been discussing earlier on Thursday.
"You can expect in no time a difference is going to be seen."
With many questions still on their lips, after over an hour Zuma was forced to end the chat saying he and his ministers had to get back to the business of running the country.
Afterwards the girls, from schools around Pretoria, were delighted with the time spent with Zuma saying it was a great experience.
"I think I was quite honoured because it's not likely for anybody to just sit down with the president and ask him questions," said 18-year-old Ingrid Bame.
- SAPA
