Publication: Business Day Date: 2005-11-29 Reporter: Karima Brown Reporter: Vukani Mde

Embattled Zuma Set to Quit ANC Deputy Post

 

Publication 

Business Day
Date

2005-11-29

Reporter

 Karima Brown, Vukani Mde

Web Link

www.bday.co.za

 

Jacob Zuma looks set to step down from his position as deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC) amid indications that rape charges are imminent. Zuma insiders said they believed the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) would charge Zuma by the end of the week, leaving him no option *1 but to relinquish his party post until the end of a potentially ugly rape trial.

In the event that Zuma quits his ANC post, he will have surrendered his last political refuge since his dismissal from cabinet in June.

Until the shock rape claim two weeks ago, Zuma had relied on his popularity in the ANC and had used the party’s machinery to garner public support in his corruption trial.

This has allowed him to remain a factor in the ANC’s succession tussle. But in the face of an imminent rape charge, it is understood Zuma and his top aides are this week considering three options to manage the fallout from such a charge.

The first is a permanent resignation from his post of ANC deputy president, but one source close to Zuma said this was unlikely. This was because the national general council said Zuma could not step down until the conclusion of his various trials.

The second option was to urge a special conference of the ANC, but this too has been discounted, given that not much time had elapsed since the national general council. The process of calling a special conference is also cumbersome and there are strict constitutional criteria to be met.

Zuma’s last option would be to take a “leave of absence” from his ANC duties pending the outcome of a rape trial, said the source. This option would be the best for both Zuma and the ANC top brass, who would be saved the potentially divisive move of forcibly suspending him.

Suspending Zuma would fall on ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe, who would have to formulate charges in terms of Rule 25.5 of the party’s constitution.

If Zuma took a “leave of absence” it would also allow him to avoid being publicly stripped of his party post and spare Motlanthe the burden of acting against him. Zuma would then appear in public as having followed his conscience and acted in the best interests of the ANC.

Public pressure has mounted on Zuma to speak publicly about the damaging allegations. Yesterday Michael Hulley, Zuma’s lawyer, said that he would be releasing a statement on his client’s behalf today. However a top Zuma aide was adamant that Zuma would speak only once he was charged.

The NPA yesterday refused to confirm speculation that Zuma would be charged within the week. But sources close to the investigation said the evidence against him was “damning”.

Political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi said Zuma’s options had narrowed considerably following the public disavowal of his presidential ambitions by the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party.

“If he’s charged, it makes sense for him to step down. But it is unlikely that he will announce it via a media briefing where he will be subjected to questions about the rape allegations.”

Matshiqi said Zuma would likely announce his future plans through a “terse statement” issued by his lawyer.

While Zuma’s star is waning, the ANC Youth League is desperately hanging on to the hope of a Zuma presidency.

The league is the only organisation that has publicly backed Zuma to succeed President Thabo Mbeki as ANC president in 2007, and stand to lose the most from Zuma’s demise. League president Fikile Mbalula yesterday conceded, however, that the league would fall in line with any ANC decision made in the event of Zuma being charged with rape.

Yesterday the ANC’s top brass were locked in a meeting of the party’s national working committee to consider, among other things, its next move regarding the rape allegation.

With acknowledgement to Karima Brown, Vukani Mde and Business Day.


*1  Why, surely the man is innocent until proven guilty?

He has two other serious charges of criminal wrongdoing pending against him and that hasn't seemed to have limited the options thus far.