Zuma's return 'not a formality'

2006-05-10 08:10

Johannesburg - African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Jacob Zuma cannot automatically resume his duties now that his trial for rape is over, the party's secretary general told SAfm on Wednesday morning.

Kgalema Motlanthe said the party's national executive committee (NEC) would first have to decide about it.

"The NEC has to consider and pronounce itself on it," Motlanthe said.

He added the NEC would meet on Sunday, in Zuma's absence, to consider his return to the second highest office in the party.

"He will have to await the final position of the ANC," Motlanthe said.

When Zuma was charged in December with raping a 31-year-old, HIV-positive woman at his Johannesburg home, he withdrew from the official duties carried by his post, working only as an "ordinary member".

He also had been "released" as the country's deputy president by President Thabo Mbeki ahead of his corruption trial in July.

Both moves caused outrage among Zuma's supporters and set off a wave of anti-Mbeki messages and insults among the Zuma supporters outside Johannesburg High Court.

Zuma told a press conference held on Tuesday that it was up to the party to decide his future, and he would accept what they said.

He had already communicated with Motlanthe about his participation in the party.

"The point is, I have never wanted to be a leader - the ANC decides."

He continued: "I have never refused a task given by the ANC and I am not about to do so now."

He denied the presence of a "succession battle" or a "split" within the ANC, saying he had only read about that in the media.

"I don't know that there is any split in the ANC."

He said he and Mbeki, who is also the party's president, had "historically" been good comrades.

- SAPA