Zuma election 'a dismal day'

2007-12-19 07:28

Johannesburg - South Africa's main opposition leader Helen Zille said the election on Tuesday of Jacob Zuma over President Thabo Mbeki as head of the governing ANC was a "dismal day" for the country.

"This is a dismal day, not only for the ANC, but for South Africa," Zille, leader of the Democratic Alliance, said in a statement.

"It is an indictment on the ruling party that they could find no better candidate than Jacob Zuma to lead them.

"The Polokwane conference has also exposed many of Zuma's supporters as unruly and ill-disciplined populists who cannot observe the basic norms of decent, democratic behaviour."

Supporters of Zuma booed and heckled Mbeki's allies during the African National Congress's five-yearly conference in northern Limpopo province.

Congratulations

Former president FW de Klerk congratulated him on his victory but urged Zuma not to push for fundamental changes to the economic policy being pursued by Mbeki.

"I welcome Mr Zuma's assurances that he will maintain the balanced macro-economic policies that have assured thirteen years of uninterrupted economic growth," said de Klerk. "These policies also represent by far the best prospect for the promotion of the long-term interests of the poor."

De Klerk also had warm words for Mbeki after his defeat in the ANC leadership contest, saying "his place in history is assured".

"It rests firmly on 13 years of economic and social progress; the consolidation of our constitutional democracy and the promotion of peace, unity and human dignity in Africa," said the Nobel laureate.

IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said Zuma faces "enormous" tasks but added that it was "a great privilege and responsibility to lead the organisation".

- AFP