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ANC split undermines govt - DA
10/01/2008 14:15 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The reported conflict between ANC President Jacob Zuma and President Thabo Mbeki would undermine the functioning of the government, the Democratic Alliance said on Thursday.
"It is in the interest of South Africa that (President) Thabo Mbeki and (ANC President) Jacob Zuma convene an urgent meeting to discuss how they plan to prevent this conflict from paralysing government," DA leader Helen Zille said in a statement.
She said resolutions made at the ANC's national conference in Polokwane were at odds with current government policy.
These included "marked differences" over the functioning of the courts, HIV/Aids, Zimbabwe, the economy and SABC funding.
"There is no doubt that other disagreements over policy will come to the fore in the weeks and months ahead."
Divisions between the Zuma and Mbeki factions within the public service would severely compromise the state's ability to deliver services.
"No doubt it will be the poorest members of our society who will suffer the most from this paralysis," she said.
Zille called on Mbeki and Zuma to set aside their personal differences and develop a workable solution to enable the "two centres of power" to function harmoniously.
At a press conference on Tuesday, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe denied there was a split between the two bodies.
"The ANC is the party that leads government. There's no division between the government and the ANC."
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