A long and bumpy year

A WEEK is a long time in politics - let alone a year. And 2011 was as filled with drama as they get.

Once again, ANC Youth League president Julius Malema took centre stage, but an irate ANC finally dealt with its enfant terrible and suspended him for five years . He is appealing the sentence.

Tension in the ANC mounted ahead of its elective conference in Mangaung next year.

President Jacob Zuma announced an inquiry into the arms deal, but spent much of the year defending a string of blunders emanating from his office.

The DA also had its fair share of leadership squabbles .

But what did the year mean for the major political players?

• JULIUS MALEMA

Malema will count 2011 as the most difficult in his young political life.

Time Magazine said this 30-year-old was one of the most influential young people in Africa.

But his controversial remarks led the ANC to slap him with a five-year suspension for ill-discipline.

If his appeal against his suspension fails, Malema could disappear into obscurity.

His push for President Jacob Zuma's removal as ANC president backfired. Now the youth league's desire for Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to take over is in doubt.

Malema's woes extended to his finances as SARS and the Hawks scoured his accounts in their investigation of his lavish lifestyle.

The public protector is investigating contracts awarded to his companies in Limpopo.

• KGALEMA MOTLANTHE

Motlanthe had several close shaves with the faulty aircraft assigned to him for international travel.

If his hair-raising air-travel experiences are anything to go by, Motlanthe cannot expect a smooth ride to the top in politics.

He is touted as a successor to Zuma in Mangaung. But his reluctance to challenge left those plotting Zuma's downfall frustrated and looking for other options.

A shrewd political operator, Motlanthe has mastered the art of fence-sitting until the 11th hour before backing the winning horse.

• GWEDE MANTASHE

The ANC secretary-general had a fantastic year.

His nemesis, Malema, was finally reined in, leaving the youth league's hopes of Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula replacing Mantashe in tatters.

Mantashe's position will be threatened only if influential provinces such as Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal propose an alternative candidate.

• HELEN ZILLE

For the DA Leader, who is also the premier of the Western Cape, 2011 was a year of mixed fortunes.

In May, Zille savoured victory when her party retained control of the City of Cape Town in the local government elections.

The DA won at least 12 municipalities in the Western Cape while its rival ANC lost support.

But in August, Zille's office was embroiled in controversy after the Sunday Times lifted the lid on possible corruption in a multimillion- rand communications tender allegedly awarded improperly.

The public protector is due to report on this next month.

• LINDIWE MAZIBUKO

This 31-year-old, mocked by Malema as Zille's "tea girl", rose from being one of the DA poster girls in the May municipal elections to making history by being elected the youngest politician to lead a party in the National Assembly.

Mazibuko clobbered veteran politician Athol Trollip to become the DA's parliamentary leader - making her one of the most influential political players in the country.

• ZWELINZIMA VAVI

The Cosatu leader continued where he left off in 2010 - as the voice of the underdog.

A rift developed between him and the president of the labour federation, Sdumo Dlamini, largely over whether the union should support Zuma for another term.

Vavi has serious reservations about the Zuma government's policies. In crossing swords with Zuma, Malema and others on key issues he has come across as the conscience of the country.

These issues included his opposition to the deal that saw US retail giant Walmart acquire a stake in local retail chain Massmart.

Vavi also opposed the Protection of State Information Bill and the tolling of Gauteng highways, urging motorists not to pay toll fees in defiance.

• See Review for a takeout on Zuma's rough 2011