Fresh Zuma plan

2007-01-28 09:10

Mandla Zulu

Johannesburg - The ANC presidential race has entered a new chapter with KwaZulu-Natal launching a fresh, spirited plan to ensure Jacob Zuma's victory in the party's fiercely contested leadership.

This faction has embarked on a renewed campaign to ensure that Zuma becomes the party's president at its 52nd national conference in Limpopo later this year.

And speculation that Zuma might withdraw his candidacy in favour of a compromise candidate, possibly Tokyo Sexwale, was dismissed on Saturday.

A statement released by Zuma's office on Saturday said: "We wish to place on record, however, that there have never been any discussions between Mr Sexwale and Mr Zuma regarding the ANC conference and candidacy thereof.

"There would be no basis for such a meeting or discussions. This matter will be dealt with correctly by the structures of the movement at the right time, following correct and well-known procedures."

No compromise candidate

In a move that showed his return to active politics, Sexwale tried about two weeks ago to assist the ANC in the Western Cape to oust the Democratic Alliance-led coalition ruling the Cape Town metro.

However, the pro-Zuma lobby in KwaZulu-Natal is not settling for a compromise candidate.

Dubbed Imvuselelo Sohlangan' eLimpopo, its massive campaign will see Zuma supporters mobilising branches to rally behind him before the December conference.

City Press newspaper has established that the Ethekwini regional leadership this week met its branch chairpersons and secretaries where the intensification of Zuma's campaign was discussed.

Ethekwini regional chairperson and safety and security MEC Bheki Cele and regional secretary John Mchunu called the meeting on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The fresh Zuma plan was mooted here.

The regional leadership is hoping that the campaign will be adopted by other regions and will end up as a province-wide drive.

At national level, the ANC has asked members to go back to the branches and revive and strengthen them.

But as the party's presidential race hots up, the Zuma faction in KwaZulu-Natal plans to go to the branches to strengthen his position before the conference

The Ethekwini region is known to be the most influential in the province because it has the financial capacity to influence other regions. It printed Zuma T-Shirts and hired buses to support him during his court appearances last year.

Leaking of information

Sources who attended the first two meetings this week said that participants were searched and their cellphones confiscated to ensure no information was leaked.

City Press has been told that Cele and Mchunu have also called on their supporters to lobby for their election to the ANC decision-making body, the national executive committee.

Cele is said to have described the ANC NEC as a "stock exchange" saying it must be dismantled and replaced with new leaders. Some of the top ANC figures who attended the three-day meeting included Ethekwini mayor Obed Mlaba, speaker James Nxumalo and executive committee member Nigel Gumede.

Mlaba confirmed attending, but refused to comment and referred City Press to Mchunu and Nxumalo.

Nxumalo claimed a campaign was launched to revive structures and not to support Zuma's presidential campaign. He said cellphones were confiscated because it had become procedure to prevent people from leaking information.

But a branch secretary who attended the meeting confirmed that the purpose of the gathering was to revive Zuma's support.

He said they were denied the opportunity to ask questions but were told to listen to Cele and Mchunu, who told them they should rally behind Zuma.

According to the source, Cele also castigated the provincial leadership saying it had been paying lip service by saying Zuma should be supported.

But it had failed to provide direction on how the former deputy president would be supported. Cele allegedly said only the Ethekwini region had been vigorously backing Zuma.

Mbeki camp

These developments come in the wake of an ANC probe into the heckling of President Thabo Mbeki at the reburial of struggle icon Moses Mabhida last month.

The probe has turned its attention to top ANC leaders in the province and has sucked in Cele, Mchunu and provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu.

Coincidentally, all are perceived to be in the Zuma camp. They have been summoned to explain their role in the heckling of Mbeki.

ANC provincial organiser Bheki Ntombela, Mchunu, Ethekwini metro councillor Tana Magwaza and Umgungundlovu district municipality chief whip Vusi Ntshangase have already appeared before the investigators.

Ntombela confirmed that he had appeared before the investigators, but refused to provide details of his interrogation.

Some people in the Mbeki camp in KwaZulu-Natal have alleged that Cele, Senzo Mchunu and others incited the crowds to heckle and stage a walkout to embarrass Mbeki.

- City Press