‘Mbeki is my comrade, my brother, my leader’

Newly elected ANC president Jacob Zuma used his first speech to urge ANC members to move away from the Zuma-camp, Mbeki-camp laagers.

Zuma spent time relating the warm nature of his relationship with Thabo Mbeki and how they had worked together for more than 30 years. ‘He’s my friend, comrade, brother, father, and indeed my leader.”

Concerns that the two centres of power would create problems had no basis. ‘I never thought one day we would compete for a position in the ANC, but competing for positions does not make us enemies.

‘We are family and belong to the home of the ANC. There is likely to be uncertainty about two centres of power but I think there is no reason for fear and uncertainty. Comrade Mbeki and I will develop smooth working relationships between government and the ANC.

‘We have at this conference taken resolutions which will guide us. ANC policies adopted here do not indicate a fundamental departure from past ANC policies.”

Zuma said there was no reason for markets to be worried. ‘We have made it clear that we need more international investment and we also invite local investors to invest in the local economy so as to generate confidence in our economy.”

He highlighted crime and HIV/Aids as key issues that have to be confronted by ANC members. ‘If we could defeat vigilantism and apartheid, what can stop us from defeating this factor?”