Ruling African National Congress (ANC) party president Jacob Zuma (L) gestures next to Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete during the first sitting of the National Assembly in Cape Town on May 6, 2009. South Africa's new parliament convened for the first time on May 6 to elect Zuma president, two weeks after he won over millions of voters on a pro-poor populist ticket. The fourth democratic parliament since apartheid swore in 400 lawmakers, including Zuma. Once the lawmakers have formally taken office, the ruling African National Congress is set to use its 66 percent majority to elect Zuma as head of state. He will only take office on May 9, when 5,000 dignitaries and 30,000 onlookers are expected to attend his inauguration in Pretoria. Getty Images logo Getty Images 6 months ago

Ruling African National Congress (ANC) party president Jacob Zuma (L) gestures next to Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete during the first sitting of the National Assembly in Cape Town on May 6, 2009. South Africa's new parliament convened for the first time on May 6 to elect Zuma president, two weeks after he won over millions of voters on a pro-poor populist ticket. The fourth democratic parliament since apartheid swore in 400 lawmakers, including Zuma. Once the lawmakers have formally taken office, the ruling African National Congress is set to use its 66 percent majority to elect Zuma as head of state. He will only take office on May 9, when 5,000 dignitaries and 30,000 onlookers are expected to attend his inauguration in Pretoria.

More Photos of Baleka Mbete

View as Grid »

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. South African President Jacob Zuma seen on a big screen as he speaks during a meeting at Khayelitsha township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009. Zuma says mayors need to clean up corruption and stop political squabbling in the face of sometimes violent protests over lack of city services.
  2. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva takes pictures of journalists while he waits for the arrival of his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma, at Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, on October 9, 2009. President Zuma is on a two-day official visit to Brazil.
  3. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva takes pictures of journalists while he waits for the arrival of his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma, at Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, on October 9, 2009. President Zuma is on a two-day official visit to Brazil.
  4. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma (L) and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva smile during an agreement signing ceremony at Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, on October 9, 2009. President Zuma is on a two-day official visit to Brazil.
  5. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma delivers a speech during an agreement signing ceremony with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, on October 9, 2009. President Zuma is on a two-day official visit to Brazil.
  6. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma (R) is welcomed by his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, on October 9, 2009. President Zuma is on a two-day official visit to Brazil.
  7. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva takes pictures of journalists while he waits for the arrival of his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma, at Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, on October 9, 2009. President Zuma is on a two-day official visit to Brazil.
  8. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva takes pictures of journalists while he waits for the arrival of his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma, at Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, on October 9, 2009. President Zuma is on a two-day official visit to Brazil.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. A soldier guards hundreds of bags of wheat seed in the isolated district of Nad Ali's district centre in the west of Helmand province, October 17, 2009. In what Western governments describe as a major success, farmers cultivated poppy on a third less land in Helmand this year than in 2008, according to the United Nations. Picture taken October 17, 2009.
  2. American university student Amanda Knox (R) arrives escorted a courtroom during a murder trial session in Perugia November 27, 2009. Defendants Knox and Raffaele Sollecito are on trial for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in November 2007.
  3. Gulab Mangal (2nd L), governor of Helmand province, gestures during prayers before cutting the ribbon to open a school in the isolated district of Nad Ali, October 17, 2009. In what Western governments describe as a major success, farmers cultivated poppy on a third less land in Helmand this year than in 2008, according to the United Nations. Picture taken October 17, 2009.
  4. SHENZHEN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27: Liang Wen - Chong of China in action during the Foursomes on the second day of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup on the Olazabal course on November 27, 2009 in Shenzhen, China.
  5. SHENZHEN, GUANGDONG - NOVEMBER 27: Lian - Wei Zhang and Wen - Chong Liang of China during Foursomes on the second day of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup on the Olazabal course on November 27, 2009 in Shenzhen, China.
  6. Butchers slaughter sheep during the celebration of Eid al Adha, or the Feat of the Sacrifice, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Nov. 27, 2009. The holiday commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for God, according to Muslim tradition, after Abraham expresses his willingness, god sends the prophet two sheep instead for slaughter.
  7. Zhang Shaoling of Macao strains in the clean and jerk of the women's group A 69-kilogram category of the World Weightlifting Championships in Goyang, west of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Nov. 27, 2009. Zhang won the bronze medal scoring total of 248 kilograms.
  8. Zhang Shaoling of Macao strains in the snatch of the women's group A 69-kilogram category of the World Weightlifting Championships in Goyang, west of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Nov. 27, 2009. Zhang won the bronze medal scoring total of 248 kilograms.
  9. Butchers slaughter sheep and cows during the celebration of Eid al-Adha, or the Feat of the Sacrifice, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Nov. 27, 2009. The holiday commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for god, according to Muslim tradition, after Abraham expresses his willingness, god sends the prophet two sheep instead for slaughter.
  10. A U.S. soldier stands guard in the isolated district of Nad Ali's district centre bazaar, in western Helmand province, October 17, 2009. In what Western governments describe as a major success, farmers cultivated poppy on a third less land in Helmand this year than in 2008, according to the United Nations. Picture taken October 17, 2009.
  11. SHENZHEN, GUANGDONG - NOVEMBER 27: Lian - Wei Zhang and Wen - Chong Liang of China during Foursomes on the second day of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup on the Olazabal course on November 27, 2009 in Shenzhen, China.
  12. SHENZHEN, GUANGDONG - NOVEMBER 27: Lian - Wei Zhang of China lines up his putt on the nineth hole during Foursomes on the second day of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup on the Olazabal course on November 27, 2009 in Shenzhen, China.
  13. SHENZHEN, GUANGDONG - NOVEMBER 27: Lian - Wei Zhang of China reacts to his putt on the nineth hole during Foursomes on the second day of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup on the Olazabal course on November 27, 2009 in Shenzhen, China.
  14. SHENZHEN, GUANGDONG - NOVEMBER 27: Lian - Wei Zhang of China plays his tee shot on the 10th hole during Foursomes on the second day of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup on the Olazabal course on November 27, 2009 in Shenzhen, China.
  15. Muslim pilgrims pray after throwing pebbles at a stone pillar representing the devil, during the Hajj pilgrim in Mina near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 27, 2009. The last stage of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the symbolic stoning of the devil, began on Friday. The first day of stoning also marks the start of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, or feast of sacrifice, when Muslims around the world slaughter sheep and cattle in remembrance of Abraham's near-sacrifice of his son.
  16. Oxana Slivenko of Russia strains in the snatch of the women's group A 69-kilogram category of the World Weightlifting Championships in Goyang, west of Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Nov. 27, 2009. Oxana won the silver medal scoring total of 264 kilograms.