Tokyo: Stop hounding Zuma

2007-11-28 12:02

Johannesburg - Businessman and African National Congress (ANC) veteran Tokyo Sexwale has said he did not believe there were any "camps" regarding the ANC presidential leadership race.

"I talk with Jacob Zuma anytime. I spoke with him last week. I can talk with President Mbeki... when last did I speak with him... we met with Thabo Mbeki over the weekend during the soccer tournament. We didn't discuss politics, we met."

He said he believed that Zuma would emerge as the winner in the leadership contest.

"I think, the way I see it, Jacob Zuma is going to come out the winner."

However, he said things could change as the party also allowed for nominations from the floor.

"They can change the entire list if they want, so it is a very democratic thing."

Doesn't want to be president

He denied that he had ever campaigned to be nominated for the presidency.

"I have never said I wanted to be president. I said I will be guided by the nominations. I have never asked for any position."

He later added, "I am saying therefore, it's not about my personal ambition. My ambition is the good life of my people.... I don't have personal ambitions separate from the people."

He was not disappointed that he did not emerge as top choice for president.

"I am not disappointed because I never asked for a job."

He had not been approached by business as a structure to become president but was asked in the street and at branch level.

But, he joked, he was asked all sorts of things, even to be a priest.

Asked whether he wanted the "top job" he responded, "It's not about me wanting the top job, it's about what ANC people are saying and right now, there are two candidates and out of those two candidates, the man in front is Jacob Zuma, that's what it's (the party) saying, it's not me. I can't blame ANC people for that. Thabo Mbeki can't blame them for that."

"However, these are still nominations...these are just indicators, the elections have not taken place."

Zuma was found not guilty

"I think, the way I see it, Jacob Zuma is going to come out the winner. That's my opinion, it's a firm opinion, it may change. But you are asking me for an opinion. It's like will it rain next week? Yeah. I believe it will rain."

He said, "The trend is that Jacob Zuma is likely to win the presidency."

He urged the public to stop hounding Zuma over the rape and corruption charges he faced.

"It must be very, very clear, South Africans, listen outside there. Don't pummel a man. Don't hound this man after he has been found not guilty by these courts. Either you accept these courts, or you don't accept them. Unless you want to destroy the judicial system, say so."

He said that according to the ANC's constitution, anyone found of a crime, especially, rape or abuse against women, "would have to go".

"There are no charges on Jacob Zuma right now. None. Zero. The Scorpions have not charged Jacob Zuma. Unless we want to be the law enforcement...we wait for the Scorpions."

Zuma would not rule alone, but the party would govern as an elective leadership.

- SAPA