The African National Congress (ANC) has welcomed reports suggesting that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is trying to iron out differences between President Thabo Mbeki and the party’s deputy, Jacob Zuma, SAfm reported on Monday.
Madikizela-Mandela plans to invite the two men to meet her before the Limpopo conference at which the party is expected to nominate a new leadership structure.
”As the ANC we welcome the initiative but it is a matter that has to be handled by the leadership of the ANC when she speaks to the leadership of the ANC,” ANC head of the Presidency Smuts Ngonyama, said.
In a statement, Madikizela-Mandela proposed that Mbeki and Zuma should retain their current party positions for another five years for the sake of unity.
However, she was silent on the question of the country’s president beyond 2009.
Zuma’s office said Madikizela-Mandela had not yet approached them. — Sapa