ANC not in crisis - Zuma

2006-05-24 15:51

Johannesburg - There was no crisis in the African National Congress, the party's deputy president Jacob Zuma told the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Wednesday.

"Many commentators and analysts would have you believe that there is a crisis in the ANC," Zuma told the 12th national congress of the union at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.

"That is not so. There is no crisis in the ruling party." He said the ANC had always managed to face up to challenges and to solve them.

"The ANC has survived this long because of its nature and it is not about to change because of opinions of commentators and analysts."

Not about individuals

Zuma said the ANC was not about individuals.

"The ANC is greater than individuals. No amount of speculation will change it from what it is.

"The ANC will survive long after all of us are gone, because of its nature."

He said "robust debate" between the ANC and its alliance partners, Cosatu and the SA Communist Party was often seen as a sign of division.

This, Zuma said, was also not true.

"The alliance was important to greater society and has to be sensitive to new challenges. The opposition has nothing to offer to these new challenges."

But the alliance debated these issues to find solutions, he said.

Zuma called on workers not to be confused by analysts and commentators. "We must not allow people to try and change us."

Tribalism 'dangerous'

Tribalism and ethnicity should not have an impact on the choice of leaders.

"Tribalism and ethnicity is dangerous," Zuma said.

He said he had a problem with it when people said he enjoyed the support of Zulus. "That is not true."

Because his recent rape trial was held in Johannesburg, people came from KwaZulu-Natal to show their support for him.

He said if he had been tried in a KwaZulu-Natal court, the "myth" that only Zulus supported him would have been dispelled.

Zuma said he has never experienced in the ANC that support was divided along tribal or ethnic lines.

"People support the party because it is the ANC."

He said he hoped that tribalism and ethnicity would not become factors in the presidential elections.

"I was taught by trade unions how dangerous tribalism is. It must be merit that count."

Huge welcome

Zuma, casually dressed in a black polo neck jersey and leather jacket, was given a huge welcome by the almost 1 000 delegates attending the congress.

Songs praising Zuma were sung and he ended his address with his signatory song Leth'umshini wami - give me my machine gun.

When he was introduced, out-going NUM secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said he had been asked by journalists why Zuma would be addressing the congress.

"We asked the ANC to send its president to address us. But, due to his duties as president of the country, President (Thabo) Mbeki is in Britain.

"In his absence the ANC sent its deputy president, Comrade Zuma."

Mantashe said there seemed to be a tendency that people were either pro-Zuma or pro-Mbeki.

"The NUM does not have this. We respect the ANC and the ANC's views."

Turning to Zuma, he said: "Comrade Zuma, we as mineworkers trust you."

- SAPA