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Alliance starts talks on Zuma
24/08/2005 15:58 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A tripartite alliance meeting to discuss the controversy surrounding axed Deputy-President Jacob Zuma was ready to get underway early on Wednesday afternoon.
"They are about to start," said African National Congress spokesperson Steyn Speed about 15:00.
Earlier, senior members of the alliance arrived for discussions at the ANC headquarters at Luthuli House in Johannesburg.
They included the SA Communist Party's general secretary Blade Nzimande, ANC Youth League president Fikile Mbalula and Congress of SA Trade Unions president Willie Madisha.
A handful of reporters and cameramen outside Luthuli House also saw government communication and information system head Joel Netshitenzhe and Young Communist League president David Masondo.
The delegates were driven straight into the parkade of the building.
The gathering comes after Cosatu's central committee resolved to call on President Thabo Mbeki to ensure corruption charges against Zuma were dropped.
It also wanted Mbeki to reinstate Zuma as his deputy.
Some Cosatu members believe there is a politically-inspired conspiracy to stop Zuma from becoming the next president of the ANC because he is seen to be too close to the working class.
"(It) is a meeting of leaders which will have to find a solution... to unite the alliance," said Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi on Tuesday.
The meeting is expected to be attended by office bearers and senior representatives of Cosatu, the ANC, the SACP and the SA National Civic Organisation.
- SAPA
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