OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday
PRESIDENT Mbeki said on Thursday that he was unfazed by allegations of a plot within the African National Congress to oust him.
Mbeki, who was addressing businessmen and cabinet ministers at a breakfast at the Sandton Convention Centre, said there was no crisis ”certainly not in the ANC and not in government”.
”The whole topic sounds very dramatic but I am not worried about it at all,” Mbeki said.
He added he did not want to delve deeply into the matter and referred further comments on the alleged plot to ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe.
Motlanthe said Safety and Security Minister Steve Tshwete had behaved responsibly by naming three senior figures in the ANC as being behind the plot.
Motlanthe was speaking on the e.tv current affairs programme 3rd Degree, which had been scheduled to interview one of the alleged conspirators, Johnnic boss Cyril Ramaphosa, on black empowerment.
However presenter Deborah Patta said Ramaphosa had withdrawn at the eleventh hour, because of Tshwete’s allegations.
Instead, the programme focused on the alleged plot and the three men that Tshwete named as being under investigation – Ramaphosa, former Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa, and former Gauteng premier Tokyo Sexwale.
Under questioning by Patta, Motlanthe denied that it was irresponsible of Tshwete to name the three, saying there had been an allegation that Mbeki was behind the assassination of former SA Communist Party secretary general Chris Hani, which was a very serious matter.
Those charged with the presidents’ safety had to pursue this issue.
”I think it was perfectly within his responsibilities,” Motlanthe said.
”He was very responsible.”
He said the ANC had full confidence in the minister.
On Tuesday night Tshwete told state television that the three politicians turned businessmen were being investigated in connection with the accusations.
However, the investigation has drawn criticism from opposition parties who claim that government is using state resources to investigate an internal ANC matter.
On Thursday the ANC rebuffed the accusation saying that Tshwete’s constitutional obligation to carry out his mandate as the Minister of Safety and Security should not be confused with his position as a senior party official.
Asked about the plot during a talk show on Northern Province regional radio stations, Mbeki said he did not feel threatened in any way.
”I don’t think there is anything to worry about. There is no danger that we face. You can sleep quite safely.”
There was no crisis in the government or the country, Mbeki said.
Leadership of political organisations was determined by elections.
”The ANC next year will take its own decision about leadership, and the people elect the government,” Mbeki said.
All three of the alleged plotters have denied the allegations, which originate in an affidavit by controversial Mpumalanga ANC youth leader James Nkambule, who presently faces some 70 fraud charges.
Two ANC allies, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the SA National Civics Organisation (Sanco), have expressed shock at the way Tshwete dealt with the matter.
Sanco said in a statement on Thursday that his conduct was ”premature and irresponsible”.
It called for an urgent meeting of the alliance partners.
”This matter should (not) have been placed on the public platform before conclusive facts and evidence had been obtained,” Sanco said.
ZA*NOW:
The man behind the Mbeki plot allegations April 26, 2001
Paranoia rife in the ANC April 26, 2001
Sexwale rubbishes Mbeki plot claim April 25, 2001
Rivals conspiring to oust me, Mbeki says April 25, 2001
Latest twist in internal anti-Mbeki ‘conspiracy’ April 23, 2001
ANC to purge Mbeki rivals April 22, 2001