ANC 'moblike face' under fire

2006-05-09 22:22

London - The court case in which Jacob Zuma was found not guilty, showed the "moblike, macho face of the ANC", but someone like Cyril Ramaphosa, a businessman and African National Congress heavyweight, could change the situation, said a British newspaper in a main article on Tuesday.

"The accused (in the Zuma case) was set free, but the case has shown the moblike, macho face of the ANC and this is not the one that should remain behind at the end of President Thabo Mbeki's term," said the Daily Telegraph.

Judge Willem van der Merwe ruled on Tuesday that Zuma had not raped the HIV-positive claimant in the case that made headlines worldwide.

Reports on the ruling also made headlines in several British national newspapers.

According to the Telegraph, it was a good thing that Zuma's chances of being Mbeki's successor were being clouded by the corruption charge he still was facing. That meant that the moblike face of the ANC might not survive.

The article said that although Zuma felt he was the victim of a plot, his accuser had better reason to claim she had suffered more (than him).

"Burn the bitch" was a typical comment from the Zuma camp towards her.

She had to get police protection, her mother's home was burgled twice, and she will almost certainly have to leave South Africa for her own safety."

It was also said that the enormous pressure she had to endure during the court case would lead to other women being reluctant to report rape cases.

Zuma's "irresponsible and arrogant" attitude towards unprotected sex also would hamper efforts to stop the spread of Aids/HIV, the Telegraph warned.

Ramaphosa 'the best candidate'

The paper also said Mbeki had anointed deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka as his successor, while the leftists, such as the SA CP and Cosatu, were still looking for a suitable candidate.

"The best potential candidate, Cyril Ramaphosa, has made his mark as a union leader, a politician and a businessman.

"It might count against him, however, that he belongs to a smaller tribe, the Venda," said the paper.

- Beeld