First clash looms in ANC
20/12/2007 09:44  - (SA)  

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Political team, Beeld

Polokwane - The first clash between the so-called twin seats of power, President Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, the new leader of the African National Congress, already seems to be looming.

The battle is likely to concern the controversial new appointments to the SABC board, described by opposition parties as Mbeki puppets, and about which there's also considerable unhappiness among Zuma's leftwing supporters.

This could be the first skirmish in a drawn-out trench war which Mbeki's supporters expect to come from Zuma supporters as they mount an onslaught on the president's integrity and his presidency.

They apparently will want to make his presidency so untenable that he'll step down in favour of Zuma.

Power struggle being denied

Zuma is at the helm of the ruling party while Mbeki remains head of state until after the election in 18 months' time.

The two met privately on Tuesday night, shortly after Zuma had beaten Mbeki in the ANC leadership stakes.

The struggle of the so-called "twin power centres" is being denied by Zuma supporters at present, but remarks by SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande indicate the contrary.

"The ANC will have to develop it own protocols to deal with this."

In what could be the first test of how the two centres of power play out, Nzimande said the appointment of the SABC board, which Mbeki still had to ratify after a lengthy parliamentary process, should start from scratch.

He complained at a media conference on Wednesday about the way in which the SABC had reported on the ANC leadership contest this week.

"It clearly can't continue. It's something that requires urgent attention."

The SACP, the Council of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and other parties such as the Democratic Alliance all felt the public broadcaster's coverage had been biased.

The term of office of the present SABC board ends this month.

'Must be ironed out'

The new board includes, among others, the contentious appointee from the office of the presidency, Gloria Serobe.

Nzimande said: "It's a matter that the new ANC leaders and the presidency will have to iron out."

This is regardless of the fact that the party political debate on the matter already has been concluded in Parliament.

 

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