The world may be becoming less anxious about South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma and the prospect of a lurch to the left in Africa’s biggest economy. But as the new president moves to accommodate the groups that backed his election campaign, the spectre of a communist advance still haunts many South Africans.

The resignation from government two weeks ago of Joel Netshitenzhe, a widely respected policy guru who had been close to former president Thabo Mbeki, sparked talk of “political shockwaves”.