Blow for Zuma - report
15/04/2007 11:10  - (SA)  

Want to know more? Answerit can help.

Date set for Zuma appeal Zuma's SARS problem 'resolved' Zuma's R15 000 birthday cake Zuma to appeal on documents Zuma probe extended to UK Zuma: Taxpayers paid R8m Zuma, Afrikaners bond at braai

Johannesburg - The aspirations of ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma to become South Africa's next president, were struck a blow as his main backers threatened to drop him as their candidate, a newspaper reported Sunday.

Zuma has been a frontrunner in the race to succeed President Thabo Mbeki, with his most vocal support found among the leftist partners to the ANC in the governing tripartite alliance.

Leaders of the Cosatu however, are reportedly reconsidering the wisdom of their support for Zuma as his battle against corruption charges does not seem to be coming to an end.

"Imagine a situation where we will have an ANC president who will spend most of his time attending court hearings," a Cosatu official was quoted as saying by the Sunday Times newspaper.

Zuma, 64, was fired as South Africa's deputy president after his financial adviser was sentenced to 15 years in jail for corruption, and he was subsequently charged.

Despite a judge throwing out the charges in September last year,linked to a 1999 arms deal, the National Prosecuting Authority is pressing ahead with efforts to convict him.

This week they were granted access to documents that could provide damning evidence against Zuma.

During his corruption trial Cosatu was at his side voicing their support, with general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi calling a Zuma presidency an "unstoppable tsunami".

However the trade union federation has done an about turn, with Vavi being told during a central executive committee meeting that workers had only supported Zuma in the face of a perceived abuse of power by the state.

Vavi told the Sunday Times the names of candidates had not yet been discussed.

"The discussion in Cosatu is still limited to the framework and to what we want corrected, what the problems are as we see them and what ideological content we need from the leadership collective."

Zuma, who has not openly declared his candidacy in line with ANC tradition, has mass support among the working class, who see him as a voice for the poor and marginalised.

The next ANC president, who traditionally goes on to the country's top job, will be chosen during the party's national conference in December.

What is this? Yahoo Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Brought to you by OUTsurance Car Insurance
	News24 Headlines on your Facebook profile		News24 on mobile