Axed deputy president Jacob Zuma has promised to reveal the reasons for his implication in corruption charges after his court battle that starts next year, but his remarks could test the tempers of African National Congress seniors who have ordered leaders to put up a united front.
On Wednesday, a calm-looking Zuma told a cheering crowd of his supporters outside the Durban Magistrate’s Court that he had never imagined that after 10 years of democracy he would face charges for crimes he had never committed.
He told the crowd, some of who burnt T-shirts emblazoned with the image of President Thabo Mbeki, that he would reveal the reasons for his implication in ”corruption” after his court battle.
Zuma, the deputy president of the ANC, had just appeared for the second time in connection with two corruption charges linked to his relationship with his convicted former financial adviser Schabir Shaik.
Zuma was axed as deputy president by Mbeki earlier this year after being accused by the court of having a ”corrupt” relationship with Shaik.
But his remarks have tested an agreement made with the ANC national executive committee (NEC), which in September made public an agreement it had reached that leaders take a principled stand against factionalism, respect the rule of law, be at the forefront of the struggle against corruption and lead by example.
The NEC agreement meant that Zuma would be expected to take responsibility for silencing expressions of disunity and factionalism in the party.
Disunity was obvious when Zuma’s supporters sang derogatory songs about Mbeki at the ANC’s national general council in July. Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was jeered at a public gathering by Zuma supporters.
ANC ‘can’t begin to speculate’
The ANC says it cannot be sure at whom Zuma’s comments on Tuesday were directed, so it would prefer to stay quiet.
Asked how the ANC felt about Zuma’s comments, party spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said: ”We don’t know what he referred to. We can’t begin to speculate. Let’s leave it at that.”
Stephen Friedman, a political analyst for the Centre for Policy Studies, said Zuma’s remarks can be interpreted as a slap in the face for the NEC.
”It depends on how they [the NEC] chose to interpret the remarks. Clearly the unwritten agreement is that neither he nor the president is supposed to snipe at each other,” he said.
”It is very difficult in practice for the NEC to act against him, even if it wanted. It is difficult to know for certain who he is talking about. He has said that he will reveal at some stage who and why they are against him.”
Friedman said Zuma made the remarks to rally his supporters while technically remaining in the agreement with the NEC.
Zuma, he said, is running a campaign to gather support before his trial.
The president’s supporters, Friedman says, are lying low on the issue of a split between the two men.
”They have been taking heat on this and I don’t think they will be inclined to challenge Zuma’s remarks. He would have to get a bit more provocative to do that.”
‘Truce’ ahead of elections
Mbeki and Zuma met face to face on September 3 and said publicly that they would not allow their differences to disrupt the goals of the ANC.
At the time of the last NEC meeting, one party leader was quoted by the Financial Mail as saying that the agreement was more of a ”truce”, designed to present a united front ahead of the local government elections expected for early next year.
The real issue here is about different styles of leadership and, more crucially, about succession within the ANC, the member said.
Both men are said to represent different power blocs in the party.
Mbeki has his Cabinet ministers and the power of the state behind him, but is said to lack the popular support that Zuma has.
Zuma has popular support and has some senior ANC names on his side.
At his court appearance on Wednesday were several high-profile people, including Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele, Ngonyama, ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe, former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni and KwaZulu-Natal economic affairs minister Zweli Mkhize.
He also has the support of the ANC Youth League and the party’s alliance partners, Cosatu and the South African Communist Party.
Victim of ‘conspiracy’
Zuma’s supporters claim he is the victim of a conspiracy to remove him from running for office in 2009.
The claims gathered steam when Zuma’s homes were raided for evidence by the National Prosecuting Authority in August.
Mbeki called for a commission of inquiry to investigate the claims.
Cosatu and the SACP were opposed to the inquiry and the idea died down after tripartite members said they would settle their differences internally.
The NEC will discuss the inquiry at its next meeting, the date of which has not been announced.
But Zuma’s remarks could annoy Mbeki into renewing his efforts to get a probe going.
Political analyst Dr Thomas Mokgale said he doubts that Zuma’s comments will encourage Mbeki to do anything explicitly. Behind the scenes, however, Mbeki might be inspired to manoeuvre to get his way.
”It is not in his nature. He will go about getting his way quietly,” Mokgale said.
He said he is unsure whether Zuma made a well-thought-out comment or something to please his supporters.
”It is very hard to read into these guys’ minds. He may have been caught in the frenzy of visible popular support and he had to say something to cheer up his supporters. It is very difficult to say whether he it was well thought-out or said without considering implications.” — Sapa