Attempts were being made to discredit African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Jacob Zuma ahead of his possible election to the ANC’s top job by the publication of details of an inquest into the death his wife, Kate, the government said on Wednesday.
”Our assessment is that this is the work of peddlers who were linked to the ‘Browse report’ who are desperately trying to … discredit and cast aspersions on government institutions,” said spokesperson Themba Maseko.
The ”Browse report” became public earlier in the year. In it, it was alleged that several people, ranging from Zuma to former Umkhonto weSizwe veterans, were involved in plans to overthrow the government.
Maseko said the government insisted that no state institutions were involved ”in any way” in the publication of the contents of the inquest.
”We view the publication of this information at this stage as malicious [and] tasteless in the extreme …”
Maseko said it was aimed at ”sowing confusion and mistrust” among members of the public.
”We call upon media houses to refuse to be used as platforms for any disinformation campaigns.”
Maseko said the inquest report was available for public viewing in court for a small fee, but that someone had now ”leaked” the document.
Low profile
Meanwhile, Zuma kept a low profile ahead of the upcoming Polokwane conference, preferring instead to spend Wednesday with relatives in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.
Zuma, who was originally reported to have started the day handing out food parcels to orphans, spent most of the day with members of the Zuma clan at Impendle, about 70km north-west of Pietermaritzburg.
Media were kept at a distance and one source told the South African Press Association that ”he [Zuma] is having a traditional ceremony with family”. Members of the Zuma clan from Nkandla had apparently also attended the ceremony. — Sapa