Mbeki supporters slam media

2007-12-18 11:30

Polokwane - Supporters of ANC president Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday lambasted the media for orchestrating "a smear campaign" against the organisation's leader, as voting got underway in Polokwane.

Lukhanya Petros, a delegate from the Eastern Cape province accused the media of "waging a campaign against Mbeki".

"You the media have deliberately misrepresented facts and misled people by saying that Mbeki wants to serve a third term as president of the country. This is despite the fact that he has made it clear that he was standing as candidate for the ANC presidency and not the country's presidency," he said.

Thembi Mgoba from the Gauteng province said she was glad that the time for the media's anti-Mbeki campaign to be exposed had finally arrived.

"All along you were being misled by these noisy Zuma people. Mbeki has solid support within the movement and you will be shocked when the results are announced," she said.

Voting got underway shortly before 09:00 on Tuesday, the third day of the ANC's national conference, after being delayed for almost three hours due to computer problems.

- SAPA