African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma has received support from alliance partners to run for presidential elections, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Sunday.
”We will not only be accompanying him to court but to the Union Buildings as the next president of South Africa,” he said, announcing the outcome of an alliance summit to journalists at Luthuli House in Johannesburg.
Flanked by South African Communist Party (SACP) secretary general Blade Nzimande and Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi, Mantashe dismissed speculation that the alliance wanted President Thabo Mbeki to be expelled and wanted an early election.
”There is no decision on that [ousting Mbeki],” Mantashe said.
The alliance agreed to work together to implement and formulate policies, including the ANC election manifesto, said Mantashe.
Zuma is due to appear in court on August 14 on charges of racketeering, money laundering, corruption and fraud.
The ANC, SACP and Cosatu, together with the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco), met at an alliance summit at Gallagher Estate in Midrand from Friday to Saturday.
”After two days of open and constructive debate, delegates agreed that the alliance, building on the new spirit of unity already displayed in a variety of joint activities over the past four months, is on course to play its historic role as the leader of South African society in achieving the goals of the National Democratic Revolution and building a better life for all,” said Mantashe
He said the alliance had united in action to tackle the many challenges facing society, and in the near future they would be working together on a number of key issues such as:
- The rise in the prices of food, fuel and many other basic necessities;
- High levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality;
- Health, education and crime;
- The electricity crisis;
- The 2009 elections; and
- Zimbabwe.
”These kinds of interactions will become a permanent feature of alliance processes in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of policies,” he said.
Mantashe said the summit reaffirmed the ANC-led alliance as the strategic political centre and steps needed to be taken to strengthen the capacity of the ANC and the alliance to play this role.
”Therefore the alliance must engage actively and dynamically with its deployees in government, both with regard to the implementation of current programmes and preparations for the medium term,” he said, quick to point out that the redeployment of ANC deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe, to Parliament was not on the summit’s agenda.
As part of working together, the summit directed the alliance leadership to urgently attend to all hot spots (problematic issues) such cross-border problems, the crisis in the Eastern Cape in general and Nelson Mandela Metro in particular.
The summit resolved that urgent consideration should be given to removing Value-Added Tax (VAT) on a wider range of basic foods, revamping and increasing financial allocations to the school-feeding schemes, and subsidies to cushion the effect of price rises on the poor.
”Land- and agrarian-reform programmes must be radically speeded up, so that more land can be made available for food production to ensure food security.
”The sale of publicly-owned land for speculative purposes and non-developmental use should stop,” he said.
On electricity the summit rejected Eskom’s demand for a 53% tariff increase.
”It was agreed that the energy summit should examine all aspects of the energy policy and not just electricity tariffs.” Mantashe said.
The energy summit will be held on May 16. — Sapa