Zuma Lashes Out [The Star, 2005-11-22]

Publication: The Star Issued: Date: 2005-11-22 Reporter: Moshoeshoe Monare Reporter: Wendy Jasson Da Costa Reporter:

Zuma Lashes Out

Publication	The Star
Date	2005-11-22
Reporter	Moshoeshoe Monare, Wendy Jasson Da Costa
Web Link	www.thestar.co.za

ANC deputy launches blistering two-hour attack on his enemies

Jacob Zuma has been reined in by the ANC's top brass - but he still believes he is a victim of a conspiracy and that some of his comrades are out to get him.

The ANC deputy president went on the offensive at the weekend's marathon national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Gauteng, saying he believed that state and senior ANC officials, as well as foreign intelligence, were trying to finish him politically.

Zuma's speech lasted about two hours, and he repeated claims that he had been sidelined, dating back to the ANC's negotiations with the apartheid regime.

It is understood that Zuma told NEC members he believed this was motivated by the fact that, as the ANC's intelligence chief, he had information about impimpis (informers) in the movement who had worked for the apartheid government

There's blood on the floor and the people are unhappy

He told ANC heavyweights that he would tell all about the "foreign forces" trying to block his path to the presidency once his corruption trial was over.

However, the ANC rejected Zuma's view that there was a smear campaign or a political conspiracy against him from within the party itself. ANC deputy secretary-general Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele confirmed that Zuma had made the speech. "He feels that there are foreign forces that are keen on ensuring he does not ascend office as the next president," she said.

The NEC had not asked questions "as per request" as they did not want to prejudice his upcoming corruption trial.

Yesterday, the ANC sought to put up a united front, issuing a statement in which it denied divisions between Zuma and President Thabo Mbeki, and trying to portray that all was well in the organisation.

However, some NEC members said this was mere "spin", and that the issue was far from resolved.

"It is a problem to pretend there is no problem. There is blood on the floor and the people are unhappy," said one leader.

ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe told reporters that the NEC had apologised for failing to act when Zuma was treated unfairly, but this did not amount to a political plot or conspiracy.

For the first time, the ANC accepted it had failed to act on Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana's recommendations that former National Prosecuting Authority boss Bulelani Ngcuka had abused his office during the investigation of Zuma's corruption case.

"The NEC, and the ANC as a whole, should have pronounced themselves more firmly on these issues, particularly the findings of the public protector on the rights of the deputy president - to the extent that failure to do so inadvertently strengthened the perception of a political conspiracy," the NEC said.

But Zuma's case is compounded by the recent rape allegations, which he asked to put before the NEC and where he denied any "involvement".

Motlanthe said the NEC did not discuss the matter because it was still at a preliminary-investigation stage, but the ANC's top leadership would keep a "close eye" on the matter.

He implied that if Zuma was prosecuted, he might voluntarily have to step aside, or else the ANC would have to act.

"The ANC leadership is expected to be guided by its own political consciousness. Any member of the leadership of the ANC who faces such serious allegations would be able to take the organisation into confidence ... (and) act appropriately in accordance with his or her conscience, failing which, if the matter is confirmed ... (and) comes to court, the ANC will be able to take action," said Motlanthe.

After debates, accusations and counter-accusations in the NEC meeting, Zuma apparently agreed to a public statement that created an impression he was satisfied with the explanation from Mbeki and his sympathisers in the NEC that there was no political conspiracy.

Zuma even reaffirmed, according to an ANC press release, that he had never campaigned for any ANC position- a paragraph some NEC members demanded be erased as it forced him into a commitment "he may not have to keep".

Both Zuma and Mbeki have apparently committed themselves to holding back their public attacks against each other. Although the organisation has reiterated its moral and political support for Zuma, his fate has been left to the courts during his corruption case and now the potential rape case.

Meanwhile, Motlanthe is expected to convene an alliance secretariat meeting next week to brief Zuma supporters about the NEC's decisions.

With acknowledgements to Moshoeshoe Monare, Wendy Jasson Da Costa and The Star.