ANC, Mbeki square up over SABC

2007-12-22 22:03

Caiphus Kgosana

Johannesburg - Just hours after President Thabo Mbeki and newly-elected ANC leader Jacob Zuma pledged to work together, a war of words has erupted over Mbeki's appointment of a new SABC board.

Zuma allies the ANC Youth League and Cosatu are up in arms over Mbeki's decision to go ahead with the appointment of a 12-member SABC board despite opposition from within and outside the ruling party.

The youth league's spokesperson, Zizi Kodwa, has even warned that if Mbeki "undermines ANC decisions, we will have to recall him".

But presidential spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga said the President had acted within the law.

Mbeki backers say the Zuma camp is just trying to flex its muscle.

"They are trying to say that before he does anything, he must call league president Fikile Mbalula and ask for permission.

"If they say that, then they must come out and say that the President must resign," said a government source.

While attitudes seem to be hardening following the Polokwane conference, City Press understands that plans are afoot to accommodate ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe in the Cabinet.

Ease tensions

Motlanthe's appointment to government could help ease tensions between the two sides and prepare for a smooth transfer of power to the new ANC leadership in 2009.

A senior ANC and government leader said Mbeki's inner circle had initially wanted Motlanthe elected national chairperson and then appointed to Cabinet.

But Motlanthe declined their offer and threw his lot with Zuma. Despite this, it is believed that Mbeki will still appoint him to Cabinet, if only to ensure smooth relations.

But the war of words over the new SABC board demonstrates the level of tension that is likely to characterise ANC and government relations over the next 18-months.

Mbeki's office announced late on Friday that he had appointed the new SABC board for the next five years. It will be chaired by Khanyisile Mkhonza, who will be deputised by Christine Qunta.

Multi-stakeholder driven

But Kodwa slammed the appointment as a "contravention" of an ANC national conference resolution that the newly elected national executive committee (NEC) first review the list.

"The conference of the ANC expressed a view that the new NEC must review the appointment of the SABC board - including its term - and that the appointment of the SABC board must be multi-stakeholder driven to allow more participation of civil society and not only be a prerogative of the minister or president," Kodwa said.

But ANC spokesperson Tiyani Rikhotso insisted that the conference "took no such resolution".

City Press could not verify if such a resolution existed.

Cosatu also condemned Mbeki and called for an urgent alliance meeting to discuss the issue. It said the matter should be referred back to Parliament.

Kodwa said the SABC had "been used as a tool in the run-up to Polokwane to advance factional agendas".

"We note sadly that the announced board has got people like Peter Vundla, who has openly expressed his hatred for the ANC president.

"The decision by the President of the Republic to appoint the board and disregard the views expressed by the national conference undermines the cohesion and unity of the ANC.

"Partly why we wanted change in the ANC in Polokwane was to bring back the centrality of the ANC as an agent of change and a leader of social transformation.

"If this trend of undermining decisions of the ANC continues unabated, we will be left with no option but to call on the ANC leadership to act," he said.

But ANC NEC member and the communications department's director-general, Lyndall Shope-Mafole, said Mbeki might have been forced to appoint the new board as the current one's term expires on December 31.

She said legislation governing the board did not allow for a term extension.

NEC

Meanwhile, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said the incoming NEC would discuss how it was going to relate to government at its first meeting on January 7.

He said they were also planning to invite Cabinet members to the NEC lekgotla later next month.

Part of the likely tension between Luthuli House and the government could stem from the fact that the majority of government ministers are not in the new NEC.

This means that a working mechanism will have to be developed to ensure party decisions are carried through at government level.

Another thorny issue is likely to be the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA's) intention to recharge Zuma.

Witch-hunt

While Mbeki insisted on Friday that the NPA should be allowed to proceed with its investigation, the Youth League and other pro-Zuma groups see it as a witch-hunt.

On Saturday the league called on Mbeki "to act" against the NPA's "abuse of power and authority".

"The NPA is peddling a political agenda using state power and authority.

"Amazingly, nobody in government has ever condemned this behaviour or taken any action to protect the rights of the ANC president, we ask why?

"Could the NPA be acting on behalf of someone or a group of people?" the league said.

- City Press