Mbeki T-shirt burning riles ANC

2005-10-12 20:48

Johannesburg - The African National Congress is dismayed by an incident in Durban on Tuesday in which supporters of axed South African deputy president Jacob Zuma burned T-shirts featuring President Thabo Mbeki's face.

"Such conduct demonstrates a lack of respect both for the office and the person of the president of the ANC," said spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama on Wednesday.

"It also demonstrates a lack of respect for the membership of the ANC who elected a president who enjoys enormous respect for serving the organisation, the country and the continent with utmost dignity and dedication."

Ngonyama said all members of the ANC were expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the constitution and political discipline of the organisation at all times.

"This conduct flies in the face of the decisions of the ANC national general council and the latest national executive committee, which called for respect of the due process of law and the organisational process being led by the ANC president and deputy president," he said.

Hundreds of Zuma supporters

Ngonyama said the constitutional structures of the ANC had confirmed the organisation's continued confidence in the leadership of Mbeki and Zuma.

"The ANC reiterates its unconditional support for its deputy president, Jacob Zuma, during this trying time," said Ngonyama.

Zuma was greeted by hundreds of supporters outside Durban magistrate's court On Wednesday.

He had just appeared for the second time in connection with two corruption charges linked to his relationship with his convicted former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik.

A calm-looking Zuma told supporters he had never imagined that, after 10 years of democracy, he would face charges for crimes he had never committed.

He said that he would reveal the reasons for his implication in "corruption" after his court battle.

- SAPA