The African National Congress (ANC) will have to ”look after” Jacob Zuma as long as he remains its deputy president, ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said on Sunday.
Zuma lost his salary of about R800 000 and perks when President Thabo Mbeki sacked him as the country’s deputy president on Tuesday.
”He will remain deputy president [of the ANC], therefore the ANC will have to look after that he has sufficient resources to take care of his responsibilities,” said Ngonyama.
He was reacting to Sunday newspaper reports that the government, the ANC, and businessmen in KwaZulu-Natal are trying to ensure the cash-strapped Zuma will be able to provide for himself and his family.
While it went without saying that Zuma will be taken care of in his capacity as ANC deputy president, Ngonyama said the ANC has not yet discussed the matter.
Ngonyama said that a trust fund reportedly being registered by private businessmen to raise funds for Zuma’s welfare had ”nothing to do with the ANC”.
Meanwhile, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) boss Advocate Vusi Pikoli has reportedly finished studying the Durban High Court judgement which led to Zuma’s dismissal.
Convicting Durban businessman Schabir Shaik of fraud and corruption, Justice Hilary Squires, found that he and his friend Zuma -‒ for whom he acted as financial adviser — had a ”generally corrupt relationship”.
Pikoli will consider various factors before announcing whether the prosecution of Zuma will proceed.
The chairperson of empowerment company Amabubesi Investments, Bulelani Ngcuka, headed the NPA when Shaik was charged with fraud and corruption in August 2003.
At the time Ngcuka said that although the NPA had prima facie evidence against Zuma, he would not be prosecuted as it would be impossible to win the case.
Zuma invited to the party
Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal branch of the ANC plans to invite Zuma to its Freedom Charter celebrations on June 26, a spokesperson for the party said on Saturday.
Mtholephi Mthimkhulu said the decision was taken at the party’s provincial general council (PGC) which took place at the University of Durban Westville on Saturday.
”The PGC finally resolved to invite the deputy president of the ANC to the Freedom Charter celebrations to be held at Umlazi on Sunday, the 26th of June,” he said in a statement.
The PGC received a ”detailed report” from the provincial leadership on Zuma’s sacking by President Thabo Mbeki, he said.
”The PGC accepts and respects the decision of the president of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki,” Mthimkhulu said.
”The PGC supports and has full confidence in President Mbeki and comrade Jacob Zuma as president and deputy president of the ANC respectively,” he said.
The meeting, which was attended by more than 500 delegates, was held two days after people attending Youth Day rallies in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga voiced their unhappiness about Zuma’s sacking.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier S’bu Ndebele was pelted with objects by people shouting pro-Zuma slogans as he left a stadium in KwaMashu on Thursday.
In Mpumalanga a crowd which had packed the Matsulu Stadium near Nelspruit chanted anti-Mbeki songs.
Zuma and ANC Youth League president Fikile Mbalula asked the crowd not to sing badly about Mbeki.
Mthimkhulu said the PGC had resolved to discuss and explain Zuma’s sacking and that Zuma should be given the opportunity to explain his side of the story.
Holomisa: ‘It is a pity’
Meanwhile, the Shaik judgement should be ”interpreted” and lead to future investigations and prosecutions, says United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa.
”The revelation of Mr [Jacob] Zuma’s relationship with Schabir Shaik has had a massive impact on the political landscape,” said Holomisa.
”It is a pity that not only has the country been brought into disrepute, but now we see increasing signs of instability.”
The timing of the scandal was ”terrible” because it came at a time when the nation was demanding quality service delivery, Holomisa said.
”Undoubtedly the focus of the ruling party will not be on service delivery now, but rather on infighting over the leadership succession.”
He said no-one could predict who else will be exposed in the arms deal scandal as rumour had it that Shaik, Zuma and former African National Congress Chief Whip Tony Yengeni were not the only people involved.
”However, we must also look beyond the current implications for Shaik, Zuma and internal ANC divisions. The time has come to look at the Constitution and electoral laws and consider separate elections for the President,” said Holomisa. – Sapa