KwaZulu-Natal leaders of the African National Congress alliance pledged support on Monday for axed deputy president Jacob Zuma and condemned recent police raids on his home.
However, they also urged South Africans to support President Thabo Mbeki and Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka as the leaders of the country.
In a joint statement on Monday, the provincial alliance condemned the ”high-handed” search-and-seizure operations the Scorpions conducted at Zuma’s home as well as at his lawyer’s offices.
”The alliance believes that these actions are both inconsistent with the law as well as the principle of attorney/client confidentiality,” the alliance secretariat said.
Members believe these actions gave rise to perceptions that Zuma’s upcoming trial will not be free and fair.
Alliance leaders will address the lower structures of their organisations at upcoming meetings to clarify their position of support for Zuma.
”We will further collectively participate in disciplined activities in support of comrade deputy president Zuma around the time of his court appearance,” the statement read.
The statement was signed by Senzo Mchunu of the ANC, Themba Mthembu of the South African Communist Party (SACP), Zet Luzipho of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and Skhumbuzo Mpanza of the South African National Civics Organisation.
”As the provincial alliance we appreciate and support the decisions of the 10-a-side national alliance meeting.”
The alliance members are satisfied that their national counterparts have properly applied their minds to the issue of Mbeki’s suggestion for an alliance commission to investigate perceptions on the issues surrounding Zuma.
ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said on Monday the tripartite alliance will meet ”sooner rather than later” to discuss Mbeki’s proposed inquiry into an alleged plot against Zuma.
Ngonyama could not say when the meeting between the ANC, SACP and Cosatu will take place or when the national alliance secretariat will next meet.
Upcoming local government elections were also discussed at the meeting and the alliance resolved to ”vigorously campaign for an overwhelming ANC victory” in the province. — Sapa