Zuma Toes the Line [City Press, 2005-11-12]

Publication: City Press Issued: Date: 2005-11-12 Reporter: Sthembiso Msomi Reporter: Wonder Hlongwa

Zuma Toes the Line

Publication	City Press
Date	2005-11-12
Reporter	S'thembiso Msomi, Wonder Hlongwa
Web Link	www.news24.com

Embattled ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma reined in his troublesome supporters yesterday before two crucial party meetings to discuss his fallout with President Thabo Mbeki.

The ANC's powerful National Working Committee (NWC) meets at the party's headquarters tomorrow to consider a progress report on a series of talks held by the two leaders in the past two months to iron out their differences.

If the NWC approves the report, which is being prepared by ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe, it will be presented to the higher constitutional body - the national executive committee - which will meet on Friday.

Motlanthe was assigned to consolidate a joint Mbeki-Zuma report after unhappiness was expressed at the last NWC meetng about their initial presentation.

Although many believe Motlanthe's report will be welcomed, they are bracing themselves for a bitter battle between the two factions in the NEC.

One of the sticking points for both parties seems to be a number of e-mails doing the rounds. They purport to expose ANC leaders who are involved in a "counter-revolutionary" plot to prevent Zuma and Motlanthe from becoming future party leaders.

Zuma's supporters believe the e-mails are true while Mbeki's supporters say they are a hoax.

Mbeki's supporters also want to take the Zuma camp to task over its supporters' behaviour and public statements alleging that Mbeki was behind Zuma's prosecution.

Before his court appearance on two counts of corruption in Durban yesterday, Zuma seemed anxious to avoid a repeat of last month's scenes when his supporters burnt ANC T-shirts bearing Mbeki's image and sang insolent *1 songs about the president.

ANC insiders say Zuma came under severe attack from Mbeki and other leaders afterwards.

They chastised him for breaking the conditions of a truce reached at a September meeting where it was agreed that supporters from both sides would refrain from attacking either of the two in public.

Eager to protect himself from further criticism, Zuma launched a publicity campaign on Friday. He made an impassioned plea on Ukhozi FM to his supporters to refrain from insulting Mbeki and burning T-shirts bearing his image.

His words did not fall on deaf ears.

Throughout the night vigil, and despite the fact that some of the supporters were intoxicated, there were few incidents of misbehaviour.

Supporters called one another many times to enquire if anyone was singing anti-Mbeki songs.

Yesterday morning, most of the anger seemed to be directed at the media with a group of people in yellow and black Zuma T-shirts burning copies of several newspapers they accused of "spreading propaganda" about their leader.

Addressing the large crowd soon after he was formally charged, Zuma, whose entire speech was in Zulu, adopted a conciliatory tone and spent much of the time talking about the need for his supporters to "behave well" when expressing their anger.

"Our actions should not overshadow the message we want to send to the nation and the government. If we want to be heard, we must handle ourselves with dignity," Zuma told the crowd.

He reiterated his claim that he had been badly treated by state institutions and said he hoped that "in the end, the truth shall be revealed".

In what was seen as another sign that Zuma and Motlanthe wanted to avoid controversy during the appearance, they ordered that SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande, ANC Youth League president Fikile Mbalula and other militant Zuma supporters not to address the crowd. Only Zuma spoke, even though many of the other leaders had prepared speeches.

Zuma did not sing his favourite awuleth'umshini wam' - "bring my machine gun" song. He only did so *2 at the end of his speech after he was egged on by the crowd.

Motlanthe hailed the supporters for their noble behaviour and said "it just means we are a learning party".

He said at a media briefing outside the Durban Magistrates' Court:

"Yes, the message has been heard because the leadership condemned it."

Inside the courtroom, Zuma's appearance was so short it barely took five minutes.

State prosecutor Billy Downer served Zuma with a provisional indictment and postponed the matter to July 31 next year for trial in the Durban High Court.

The charges mirror *3 those brought against Zuma's financial adviser Schabir Shaik who was found guilty of fraud and corruption in June this year.

The court was packed with journalists, Zuma's friends and relatives and a handful of politicians who had come to show solidarity for him.

They included Motlanthe, Nzimande, Mbalula, Young Communist League secretary Buti Manamela, Sadtu secretary Thulas Nxesi, KwaZulu-Natal premier Sbu Ndebele and almost all of the ANC MECs in his provincial cabinet.

With acknowledgement to S'thembiso Msomi, Wonder Hlongwa and City Press.

*1 More particularly about his close relatives.

*2 Did not, did so - which is it.

He did. Got it on DVD.

*3 Not quite.

They are far more formidable - and there's probably more coming in March.