Cosatu welcomes ANC statement on Zuma

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has welcomed a statement by the African National Congress, which denied that Jacob Zuma would be summoned to answer certain questions.

“We trust that this matter is now closed, except for those who are hell-bent on assassinating his character,” said Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven.

“Cosatu welcomes the statement issued by the ANC, which denies that the ANC is to summon Jacob Zuma to answer certain questions.”

Craven was referring to Monday’s statement issued by party spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama, saying the ANC denied that Zuma, the ANC deputy president, would be called to account.

“The ANC has taken no such decision,” Ngonyama said in the statement.

He said the ANC national executive committee (NEC) had resolved at a meeting two weekends ago that due to Zuma’s request to be excused from that weekend’s NEC talks on matters arising from his trial, ANC officials would brief Zuma on issues raised during the discussion, “affording him an opportunity to comment on them”.

“This is a matter of normal organisational procedure, which the ANC’s national chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota sought to clarify in his comments on the matter.

“To suggest otherwise is inaccurate and mischievous,” Ngonyama said.

Later on Monday, Cosatu said contradictory comments on Zuma by senior figures in the party proved there was a serious crisis in the movement.

Cosatu’s claim followed apparently conflicting comments by Lekota and secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe on whether Zuma was to be called to account over remarks he made during his rape trial.—Sapa