Deputy President Jacob Zuma faces two choices: either he steps down from the Cabinet or the African National Congress will have to decide his fate at its national general council at the end of the month.
Zuma’s image has been tainted by the trial of Schabir Shaik where the latter was found guilty of corruption and fraud this week.
Zuma’s connection with the trial has embarrassed the ANC, which will have to decide whether to nominate such a compromised individual as a presidential candidate. What happens to Zuma will depend on which school of thought prevails in the ANC.
On Monday the ruling party’s secretary general, Kgalema Motlanthe, told the media that even in the Zuma case, the ÂÂprinciple adopted by the national executive committee, of acting firmly against individuals implicated in corruption or found guilty of an offence would have to apply.
”We have articulated the principles which guide us and we will be guided by those principles, whatever the outcome,” said Motlanthe.
On Thursday the ANC said it appreciated the role of the court in affirming the rule of law, but did not comment on Zuma’s future.
Head of government communication Joel Netshitenzhe said Zuma, who was in Zambia on Thursday, was studying the judgement.
Netshitenzhe added that there were implications for the government arising from the judgement and that it would decide on a course of action.
But senior ANC sources said the judgement was timely, as it came three weeks before the national general council, the highest ÂÂdecision-making body outside national ÂÂconference.
Even though the issue of leadership was not on the agenda, the national working committee might decide to open the matter for debate.
Other thinking within the ANC is that Zuma should step down as ÂÂdeputy president and immerse himself in party work until he clears himself in court — if afforded the chance — or until he regains his credibility.
Those who favour Zuma temporarily stepping down, say he should not dig in his heels out of a belief that he is popular within the ANC and its alliance partners.
”ANC politics are no longer decided by mass appeal. Decisions are no longer taken on the basis of how popular you are, but whether your leadership satisfies national and international imperatives.
”If you try to place yourself above ANC leadership by virtue of your popularity, you might end up losing that popularity,” an ANC insider said.
But Zuma’s supporters, including the ANC Youth League, stick to the line that he was not on trial and therefore has no duty to respond to the verdict.
They insist that his crime of having a corrupt relationship with Shaik is not as serious as the theft of public money meant for the poor and the disabled.
”Jacob Zuma’s credibility is in ÂÂserious danger, but he won’t step down [from the country’s deputy presidency]. There is still a view in the ANC that the Shaik trial has been orchestrated — there are many people who don’t trust the legal system. The danger, then, is that the masses are going to support [Zuma] even more,” said a senior ANC member in the Eastern Cape.