/ 12 May 2006

‘The members will decide’

Jacob Zuma’s political future rests with the way about 3 000 delegates at next year’s ANC conference will vote for the party’s leadership. Monako Dibetle, Percy Zvomuya and Niren Tolsi spoke to members of the party and its affiliates

”What I am happy about is that women had a chance in this trial to speak out about rape. I don’t know if there is a conspiracy to destroy him. On the succession, being female myself I would want Phumzile [Mlambo-Ngcuka] to succeed Thabo Mbeki.” — Mbali Hlophe, chairperson of the Wits University branch of the South African Students Congress

”I am happy that justice has been done. Zuma has been proven innocent. But the fallout is that many women would be afraid to report rape cases. Many women would be afraid to come forward as they may be afraid to be seen as liars. The not guilty verdict has made him stronger judging by the support he is receiving. We as the ANCYL were disappointed by his stance on HIV/Aids, but he has apologised. I think he stands a good chance to succeed Mbeki.” — Thembi Mabuza, newly elected chairperson of the Wits branch of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL)

”The outcome strengthens the general belief among rank and file ANC members that there is a political conspiracy against Zuma. The not guilty verdict strengthens the view that the woman was planted to discredit Msholozi. The masses will show their wrath next year if they vote for Zuma to be the president and the executive committee decides he cannot be president of the country.” — Zingisani Nkamana, ANC branch member in Germiston

”I am very thrilled with the verdict. I think the verdict strengthens the image of the party as well as Zuma’s image.” — Philemon Lukhele, a former president of the Wits Students Representative Council and a member of the ANCYL

”Zuma is one of our key leaders in the movement. I am happy that though he was charged he was acquitted. As for the ANC presidency, I think it is for the party to decide. I don’t know anything about the conspiracy. But the mood in the party is generally a happy one.” — A Vaal member of the ANC, speaking on condition of anonymity

”I don’t think there was a conspiracy to destroy his career politically, for his relationship with Schabir Shaik was found to be ‘generally corrupt’. Although I believe in Zuma, his dealing with HIV/Aids is disturbing.” — Santini Pieterse of Johannesburg

”Our ideological position is that we support Zuma as a disciplined cadre in the liberation struggle and not as a Zulu person. In the rape trial we were clear that he should be proven guilty in a court of law. We will mobilise to go to Durban to support Msholozi in the corruption trial.” — Buda Tsotetsi, national coordinator of the Congress of South African Students

”Any leader of the ANC is elected with confidence by the members of the party. He is elected because members feel that he will represent the party in accordance to the party’s policies. I can’t say that he lost support or he gained support. What I know is that we have been behind him all the way as our elected deputy president.” — Patrick Lipudi, West Rand ANC regional secretary

”The way developments have been unfolding one can conclude that there are people within the party who want to sabotage the deputy president. The e-mail saga and the succession debate have really shown that some people in the ANC do not want him. And as far as I am concerned, ANC branches should be the ones determining who the next president is. He [Mbeki] could say who he wants to be president but we can say otherwise in the next congress.” — Matsemela Matsemela, ANC branch member in Vereeniging

”We feel the judgement was fair. But those statements about culture and the shower were disgusting. They were very dangerous to him and the youth in particular, because it could lead to them doing what he said he did. What’s more annoying is that they even insult our African culture. No one [alone] has the right to choose who should be president of the ANC or the country. The president is just a human being who happens to be a leader of the party. Members are the ones with [majority] power to decide who the next president will be.” — Dennis Mangope, ANC branch member in Randfontein, West Rand

”Zuma will be president of the ANC at the national conference in Mafikeng [next year], and consequently the next president [of the country]. The challenge facing the ANC now is the strengthening of structures to include the members in decision-making. The question now is: How do we ensure that whatever anger might be there among the masses is channelled in the right direction?” — KwaZulu-Natal ANCYL chairperson Nhlakanipho Ncombela

”At branch level, there is no doubt that we will be nominating comrade Jacob Zuma for the leadership of the ANC. At the ANC national general conference in Pretoria last year KwaZulu-Natal was the first province to come out in support of JZ. Of course it is in the culture of the ANC to contest and debate. Nothing is a foregone conclusion.” — Mondli Ngcobo, secretary of the Port Shepstone branch of the ANC