Church head praises leading South African presidential candidate

The man widely predicted to become South Africa's next president has been praised as a patient and caring leader by the church which ordained him as pastor.

Goodman Khanyase, Archbishop of the Foundation of the Apostles Congregational Church, voiced his support for Jacob Zuma, the deputy president of the governing African National Congress (ANC) party in South Africa during the ANC national conference at Polokwane, South Africa.

He said that South Africans had everything to gain if Zuma became the national president.

"When he was attacked left, right and centre, he (remained) calm and never fought back... He is a patient leader who cares about others," Archbishop Khanyase was quoted as saying by Independent Online South Africa (IOSA).

The Archbishop, who is also the president of the National Independent Church Leaders' Organisation, ordained Zuma in March.

"We anointed him after realising that he had remarkable leadership qualities... South Africans must consider themselves blessed that Zuma is now about to be elected ANC president and become the country's president in 2009," he said.

Zuma was elected as leader of the ANC on Tuesday and is likely to become South African president when the current president Thabo Mbeki steps down in 2009.