Cosatu sees ANC split on Zuma

2006-06-05 23:16

Cape Town - Contradictory statements on Jacob Zuma by senior figures in the African National Congress proved there must be a serious crisis in the organisation, said the Congress of SA Trade Unions on Monday.

Its claim follows apparently conflicting comments by national chairman Mosiuoa Lekota and secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe on whether Zuma, the party's deputy president, is to be called to account for remarks he made during his rape trial.

Lekota has said Zuma "must explain himself" on his claim that former prosecutions boss Bulelani Ngcuka and Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils were part of an "anti-Zuma camp" in the ANC.

TV statement refuted

However Motlanthe declared on Sunday there would be no further questions about Zuma's utterances in court, and the matter was closed.

Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven said an ANC national executive committee statement last week insisted there was no crisis within its ranks.

"Yet, a few days later, the national chairperson makes a statement to millions of TV viewers which the secretary-general immediately refutes. This surely proves there must be a serious crisis," he said.

Earlier on Monday, in a statement issued by spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama, the ANC denied Zuma would be called to account.

"The ANC has taken no such decision," said the statement.

'Normal procedure'

It said the NEC had resolved at a meeting two weekends ago that, due to his request to be excused from NEC discussion on matters arising from his trial, ANC officials would brief Zuma on issues raised during the discussion, "affording him an opportunity to comment on them.

"This is a matter of normal organisational procedure, which the ANC's national chairperson, Mosiuoa Lekota, sought to clarify in his comments on the matter.

"To suggest otherwise is inaccurate and mischievous."

- SAPA