Mbeki-Zuma fight 'affecting govt'

2005-10-22 16:28

Johannesburg - The Thabo Mbeki-Jacob Zuma "fight" was affecting government's performance at every level, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon said on Saturday.

"And the DA as the official opposition leader cannot remain neutral and detached. But which side, if any, should we support in the ANC's internal battle?"

Leon was addressing the Eastern Cape Provincial Congress in East London.

Weighing up whether to support Mbeki because of his handling of the economy or the ANC's left wing for its backing of social assistance programmes, Mbeki come down in favour of the former.

"We must support the president, the law enforcement agencies and the justice system. If it comes down to a choice, that is where our loyalties must lie.

"Many people seem to think the DA would support the Mbeki faction because of the president's responsible macro-economic management and his steps towards supporting growth-orientated, market-friendly economic policies."

However, the DA and the ANC's left-wing - unions and communists - saw eye-to-eye on a number of issues, said Leon.

"Support for a basic income grant for the poorest South Africans is the first issue. Others include urgent interventions to help those living with HIV/Aids, broader anti-retroviral treatment and a tougher stance towards Zimbabwe and Swaziland."

While the party supported the Congress of SA Trade Unions and the SA Communist Party on these issues, the DA could never support the approach the two parties had taken to support Zuma, Leon said.

Demands by the two organisations that corruption charges against Zuma be dropped questioned whether the country would be governed by rule of law.

"There is no question about where the DA stands on that issue," said Leon.

The true danger of the Mbeki-Zuma fight was that it could expand and erupt into a fight over democracy itself. Although the DA was an opposition party, it would stand behind Mbeki, Leon said.

- SAPA