The calculated controversy

South Africa's ruling African National Congress is desperately trying to bridge the widening cracks in its partnership with the South African Communist Party (SACP) after its youth wing leader Julius Malema was booed and heckled at the SACP's national conference recently.

As a close ally of President Jacob Zuma, Mr Malema, 27, is one of the most influential people in the country.

He is also one of its most divisive.

The communist delegates booed Mr Malema after he had called SACP deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin a "white messiah" in a row over proposals to nationalise the country's mines.

After being heckled, Mr Malema stormed out, saying that he would report the matter to the president.

Following the row, the ANC distanced itself from his statements - not for the first time - but no disciplinary action has ever been taken against Mr Malema.

His own man?

The ANC youth league leader garnered a lot of support for Mr Zuma in the run-up to the April elections, so some argue that the president is in some way indebted to him.

It has been suggested that his outrageous utterances may be coming from higher up in the ANC.

During Mr Zuma's long legal troubles, which his allies blame on a plot by then President Thabo Mbeki, Mr Malema infamously said: "We are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma".

His statement drew widespread condemnation from politicians and South Africans - opposition parties questioned why President Zuma, who was also present at the rally, had not publicly reprimanded Mr Malema.

But whether from his own thoughts or taking a cue from his seniors, what Mr Malema has said has sometimes come to pass.

He was among the first to announce that Mr Mbeki would be sacked as president.

Yar’adua won’t return anytime soon, but his inner circle moves to retain power

Despite sponsored media reports by pro-Yar’adua groups, impeccable sources familiar with the condition of the ailing Nigerian ruler have again told Saharareporters that Yar’adua “will not be returning to Nigeria anytime soon, if he does at all,” in the words of one of them.

The latest briefing by our sources is consistent with several disclosures by our correspondents on Mr. Yar’adua’s health status. “His return date is uncertain, but it won’t be soon,” said one of our sources. This position is further strengthened by an official declaration by the Nigeria’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Abdullahi Garba Aminchi, who last week told members of the foreign media that “only Yar’adua’s doctors could determine his date of return to Nigeria.” Our sources indicated that Yar’adua’s health took a bleak turn last week after three major organs had failed within a 24-hour period heightening fears that his condition might never improve to the point that he could quickly return back to Nigeria as planned by members of his kitchen cabinet. The unofficial but close-knit kitchen cabinet is led by his wife, Turai, and includes his Minister of Agriculture, Abba Ruma, his Chief Economic Adviser, Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, the governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, and former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori. The group had orchestrated media reports and told political groups loyal to them that Yar’adua was returning last weekend. Amongst the group, only Turai has unfettered access to Yar’adua in the intensive care unit of the hospital where he is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The group’s main motivation was the desire to keep control of power until such a time that Yar’adua can return to Nigeria. “Given his current state, the earliest he can be brought would be late in December, if the group decides to damn the consequences of bringing him dead or alive,” said our source.