Zuma Fights for His Life [City Press, 2005-11-19]

Publication: City Press Issued: Date: 2005-11-19 Reporter: Sthembiso Msomi

Zuma Fights for His Life

Publication	City Press
Date	2005-11-19
Reporter	S'thembiso Msomi
Web Link	www.news24.com

Jacob Zuma is fighting for his political life in the ANC - only a week after his show of force *1 at the Durban Magistrates' Court where he was indicted for corruption.

A rape charge laid by a woman who was so close to him that she considered herself as his daughter has changed the political landscape for Zuma, his supporters and the balance of power in the ANC.

Even his staunchest supporters, the ANC Youth League (ANCYL), have gone to ground.

From Friday, when the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting started in Esselen Park, Zuma's supporters in the top echelons of the ANC launched a concerted effort to stave off a debate on the issue of the rape charge which could have led to his suspension.

Caught in the middle and with the power to decide Zuma's fate is national police commissioner Jackie Selebi. Selebi has refused to confirm or deny the existence of the rape allegations. Selebi must also decide if and how to pursue and direct the police investigation into the matter.

There was talk yesterday that some NEC members wanted Selebi summoned to Esselen Park. Selebi said yesterday that he would not say anything on the matter and that an approach to brief the NEC had not been made. The NEC was supposed to have discussed a joint report by Zuma and Mbeki on how to resolve the internal divisions within the party caused by Zuma's expulsion.

But the rape claims led to some members of the NEC calling for the matter to be discussed on Friday.

Zuma's supporters strongly objected to the proposal. They argued that there was no basis to debate the issue as the police had not confirmed that they were investigating Zuma. By Friday this view seemed to enjoy support from a greater number of NEC members.

The publication of a case number by Beeld newspaper yesterday got some NEC members arguing that the mere fact that a case number existed, meant that there was indeed an investigation.

Police have refused to confirm or deny that they are investigating a sexual assault complaint by a 31-year-old woman against Zuma.

Although Zuma, through his lawyer Michael Hurley, has denied the rape allegations, some of his supporters say they will now find it difficult to continue backing him if it is indeed proved that he had sex with the woman.

"Even if it were consensual, it is problematic *2 as this woman was like his own daughter," said one politician.

But other ANC members who back Zuma, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, insist that the allegations are part of a plot to kill off his presidential chances.

They claim that the alleged victim had "confessed" that she had been "bribed" *3 to make up the allegations.

Attempts to get hold of the alleged victim proved fruitless this week.

The allegations have put ANC leaders such as secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe who had been trying to find the political solution to the ongoing problems within the ANC in a fix.

One of the major issues, according to NEC members, is that Mbeki and Zuma are not communicating as frequently as they should.

Mbeki left the NEC meeting before its conclusion yesterday. His spokesperson, Murphy Morobe, said he was not aware of any other engagement he might have for the afternoon.

With acknowledgements to S'thembiso Msomi and City Press.

*1 Isn't a week a long time in politics, or is it a lifetime?

*2 The man's married - thrice to boot, with a spread of offspring in approximately the same age group.

*3 DNA matching and correlation with the “force was used” allegation, plus J88 report, in Case No. 312/11/2005 might confirm or dispel the averments of these unnamed claimants.