Zuma support shock

2007-02-04 10:05

Mandla Zulu

Johannesburg A- NC deputy president Jacob Zuma's chances of becoming the party's next president have been dealt a severe blow.

The KwaZulu-Natal ANC executive last week said it never wanted Zuma to replace Thabo Mbeki.

This emerged after a heated ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) meeting last week when some of its members challenged Zuma's supporters in the executive to produce minutes to prove that such a resolution was ever taken by provincial party structures.

The meeting came a day after City Press revealed details of a concerted campaign by Zuma's supporters in the province to mobilise support for him ahead of the party's 52nd national conference.

KwaZulu-Natal, which is the second-largest ANC province in terms of membership, is widely regarded as Zuma's most powerful support base within the party.

Statements by provincial leaders in recent months gave the impression that the province would vote as a block for Zuma at the party's national conference at the University of Limpopo in December.

But last week, ANC provincial chairperson and premier, Sbu Ndebele, said an "official decision" on whom the party would back for the ANC presidency would only be taken later this year.

"It will only become official the day we make official nominations for candidates, and that will be done in August," said Ndebele.

This is in contrast to Ndebele's statement at a provincial general council earlier this year when he said "there was no reason to change" the province's "decision" to back Zuma for ANC president.

Party insiders say Ndebele made the remarks at the time in a desperate attempt to fend off what was suspected to be a plot by the "pro-Zuma" lobby to unseat him.

Those opposed to Zuma's presidential ambitions blame provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu for "misleading the public" into believing that the province had taken a decision to back Zuma.

Mchunu first made public the province's "decision" to back Zuma for president at a press conference on the eve of one of his corruption trial appearances last year.

But when City Press told him on Friday that Ndebele now said such a decision had not been taken, Mchunu declined to comment and said the matter was complicated.

"I'm actually reluctant to say anything on that matter. It's better to leave it like that, or let me just say I don't want to make any comment," said Mchunu.

Following revelations that the "pro-Zuma" Ethekwini ANC region had launched the Imvuselelo Sohlangan-eLimpopo campaign to win votes for Zuma, PEC members not aligned to the camp challenged those behind this campaign to provide proof that a decision was ever taken to support Zuma.

PEC member Mbuso Kubheka, said to be a "Mbeki supporter", was apparently the first to raise the issue at the meeting.

"Heated arguments ensued between Zuma and Mbeki supporters during the meeting.

"Zuma's supporters confronted Kubheka and his group, accusing them of bringing the Zuma issue at a wrong platform," said a PEC member who attended the meeting.

Kubheka confirmed that he had raised the matter at the meeting but refused to comment further.

Another party insider said the confrontation at the meeting indicated that, although the "Zuma lobby" remained the largest within the PEC, Mbeki's supporters were steadily regaining the confidence to speak out at meetings.

"People are tired of being bullied.

"There have been many things that have been done and said in the name of the province without being first discussed by our structures.

"There is a sense that 'enough is enough', this thing must stop," he said.

Don Mkhwanazi, who chairs the Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust, said he was "disappointed" to hear that the provincial leadership was divided on the issue.

Although the trust had nothing to do with the ANC succession issue, he said, it believed that the province had taken the decision.

"I don't know what prompted them to do so and I don't know what changed them now.

"I don't know why Ndebele changed because he is the one who declared the official position of the provincial leadership and that is why the Eastern Cape took their position (which is to support Mbeki's re-election)...

"Make no mistake, people are not stupid.

"They know whom they will vote for president," Mkhwanazi said.

The ANC in KZN has nine regional structures made up of more than 500 branches.

Ethekwini, which is made up of Durban and surrounding areas, is the largest, with 100 branches.

According to a number of sources, although Zuma enjoys wide support at branch levels, there is growing support for Ndebele and "the Mbeki camp" in Sisonke and Ilembe districts - both of which are semi-rural.

- City Press