ANCYL still supports Zuma
2005-06-15 19:53
Johannesburg - Former deputy president Jacob Zuma has the right to defend himself in court against allegations of corruption, the ANC Youth League said on Wednesday.
The League was reacting to Zuma's dismissal as deputy president by President Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday.
While the League, which has long backed Zuma, reiterated its support for him, it "unreservedly and unconditionally" welcomed Mbeki's decision.
"We respect the prerogative of the president in relation to this particular matter," said ANCYL president Fikile Mbalula.
"If the deputy president is convicted and found guilty of any wrongdoing, the ANCYL will be forced to review its position.
There is nothing at the present moment that requires that the ANCYL must relook at its position.
"A person is innocent until proven guilty. In this particular instance, it applies to the deputy president," Mbalula said.
The Scorpions were being careful how they went about arriving at a decision on whether to prosecute Zuma.
When somebody was charged there should be evidence to do so, he said.
If a person was actually found to have done wrong or if wrongdoing had been implied - as was the case with Zuma - it meant he "must one way or another give his side of things, and that can only happen before a competent court of law".
Mbalula said Zuma would still be addressing the ANCYL's youth day rally in Mpumalanga on Thursday.
It would not be a "support Zuma" rally, but would carry the message of June 16, of job creation and of the fight against poverty.
He would be speaking in his capacity as deputy president of the ANC.
"Zuma will speak there as an innocent man before the people of South Africa," said Mbalula.
- SAPA