Zuma denies anti-Mbeki feeling
2006-09-22 13:03
Donwald Pressly
Johannesburg - Former deputy president Jacob Zuma denied emphatically on Friday that he was being used as a pawn against President Thabo Mbeki.
He also denied that there was "an anti-Mbeki camp" working in the
ANC and played down suggestions that the two leaders were personally at odds.
These questions followed roaring displays of solidarity with him during this weeks Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) congress this week.
Zuma said that there had been times when they hadn't spoken to each other for years - when they were in different places - but he expected to see the president on Monday, alluding to regular Monday meetings of the ruling ANC.
Interviewed by e-TV and 702 radio here on Friday, Zuma said he would stay in politics. "My stay in politics has helped to liberate South Africa. My staying in politics will help to ensure that South Africa continues to prosper".
Humbled, deeply grateful for support
He said that his remaining in politics would also foster unity - following a suggestion that he should stand down and exit politics because there was risk he would be a divisive element on the political road going forward.
Asked if he would be pursuing defamation actions against a variety of newspapers, he said this was a matter being considered by his lawyers.
He did say that it was inappropriate that the former prosecutions boss Bulelani Ngcuka had suggested that he was "not fit to be president" at a meeting of certain selected editors.
Zuma repeated that he believed there was a conspiracy against him, but would not say who was behind this conspiracy.
Thanking his supporters, he said he had been "humbled and deeply grateful for the support I have received from the masses throughout the country, which have been driven by their anger and dismay at the systematic violations of my rights."
Corruption charges against Zuma were dismissed by the Pietermaritzburg High Court earlier this week.
- I-Net Bridge (News24)