Zuma named Newsmaker of the Year 2009

President Jacob Zuma has been declared Newsmaker of the Year 2009, beating African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema, athlete Caster Semenya and former Springbok rugby captain Joost van der Westhuizen, the National Press Club said on Thursday.

“President Zuma was in the news for various reasons throughout 2009. He dominated ...

column space in the print media and much of the airwaves in the electronic media,” said press club chairperson Yusuf Abramjee in a statement.

The election campaign, the withdrawal of corruption charges against Zuma and his election to the presidency kept him in the spotlight.

Other issues included the launch of the presidential hotline, and Zuma’s choice for the appointments of a new chief justice, new national director of public prosecutions and national police commissioner.

The award would be presented to him at a date still to be announced.

Zuma also won the award in 2005 due to his legal wrangles. He was a nominee in 2008, but lost to Congress of the People and Eskom.—Sapa