so many south africans ciro around a poser embodied a new chapter and leader who enjoyed support and trust right across the class and color divides. when he replaced his disgraced predecessor jacob zuma first as leader of the a.n.c. and then as president he promised years of corruption and economic mismanagement were over you door is a poor us and the wonderful door pairs of eyes thank you. as a young anti apartheid activist and trade union leader from opposer was a nelson mandela protege who led the talks to and white minority rule in south africa. but when he was passed over as mandela a successor to president he turned his back on politics focused instead on business becoming one of the country's wealthiest men. later it was the backing of the business lobby and his boardroom experience that would help give him another edge