A senior African National Congress official has denied the party intends grilling Jacob Zuma about statements he made in court during his rape trial, the Cape Times reported on Monday.
Its website quoted African National Congress secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe as saying on Sunday there would be no further questions about Zuma’s utterances in court.
”I don’t know where this comes from. I am the secretary general of the ANC and I keep all minutes of all meetings and there’s no such thing,” Motlanthe said.
”As far as we are concerned, the matter is closed and [Zuma] has assumed his responsibilities as the deputy president of the organisation.
The Sunday Times, quoting a number of sources in the ANC top leadership, said the ANC’s National Executive Committee wanted Zuma to explain a number of statements he made in court.
These included his evidence that he had a shower to minimise the risk of contracting HIV after having had sex with the HIV-positive woman who was his accuser.
Zuma was reportedly also to be queried about a suggestion that Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils was part of an anti-Zuma camp in the ANC.
Motlanthe was adamant that claims that Zuma was to be questioned were untrue.
”We believe that a competent judge in a court of law has ruled over the matter and [Zuma] was acquitted and that is a closed case now,” Motlanthe said.
Also on Monday, Business Day reported ANC chairman Mosiuoa Lekota as saying: ”Comrade JZ must explain himself on the issues of a conspiracy and allegations against [former chief prosecutor] Bulelani Ngcuka and Ronnie Kasrils.”
Lekota added: ”On the other issues reported on in the Sunday Times –that cannot be ascribed to me.” – Sapa