The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has called on President Thabo Mbeki to reinstate Jacob Zuma as the deputy president of the country.
The call is in line with resolutions adopted at Cosatu’s central executive committee meeting, said Cosatu KwaZulu-Natal secretary Zet Luzipho.
He was speaking at a briefing in Durban as thousands of protesters demanded the withdrawal of criminal charges against Zuma, who is the president of the African National Congress (ANC).
Zuma is a beacon of hope to the people, said Luzipho, pledging Cosatu’s ”impeccable support”.
Speaking on Zuma’s pending court case on Friday, he said: ”The rich people in our society are using their influence over state institutions and the fourth estate to barricade Zuma from becoming the next state president.
”South Africa is being subjected to a very strenuous and traumatic process … and we just hope the judge will put this case to rest … but we can’t say if the National Prosecuting Authority [NPA] will come after him again.”
The only way to put an end to ”continuous demonstrations”, said Luzipho, is for the courts to ”put this case to rest”.
”We don’t want to see a situation where there are continuous demonstrations.
”Cosatu believes that the matter pertaining to Jacob Zuma is an economic matter … we will explore the possibility of embarking on an [indefinite] strike [on November 28 and 29] until the matter is brought to finality.
”Enough is enough,” he said.
The union also warned that protests have been ”peaceful” thus far but that people’s patience should not be tested.
Death threats
Luzipho said Cosatu is also worried as several death threats have been levelled against their members in Ulundi. He said the federation has evidence, such as letters, to back up its claim.
Police have been alerted about the threats and have been given the evidence.
”We take these threats very seriously because they are being made in the wake of the arms discovery at Inquthu. Equally, we do note the correlation between these threats and the training of mercenaries at the Mlaba camp.”
Two weeks ago, 452 people were arrested in Ulundi for allegedly undergoing illegal military training. It was alleged that the group comprised new recruits and former Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) self-protection unit members.
Cosatu on Wednesday questioned the ”conspicuous silence” of tribal chief and IFP leader Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, asking whether he had given permission for using mercenaries.
More than 3 000 people converged on the Durban offices of the NPA on Wednesday, demanding that it withdraw its criminal charges against Zuma.
Durban’s West and Field streets were entirely closed off to traffic from mid-morning onwards.
Just after midday, members of the crowd opened a fire hose and sprayed water inside the building housing the NPA’s offices.
Police wielding riot shields and batons battled to keep control of the crowed that had sung, danced and waved banners up and down the two roads since mid-morning.
Pictures of Zuma were to be seen everywhere, with placards reading: ”Hands off Jacob Zuma”.
Numerous members of the provincial and local ANC leadership were to be seen, including Durban mayor Obed Mlaba.
‘Venomous hatred’
Luzipho also accused cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, known for his work as Zapiro, of racism over his cartoon of Zuma in the Sunday Times on the weekend.
”Racists like Zapiro and their venomous hatred for democracy continue to abuse the constitutionally enshrined freedom of expression.
”His cartoon is reminiscent of the apartheid ‘swart gevaar’ threat that was used by the ruling class …”
Zuma faces a charge of racketeering, four charges of corruption, a charge of money laundering and 12 charges of fraud related to the multibillion-rand government arms deal.
He was charged in 2005 but that case was struck from the role in 2006.
He was re-charged in December 2007.
A charge of racketeering and two counts of corruption are also faced by two Thint companies — Thint Holding (Southern Africa) Pty Ltd and Thint (Pty) Ltd — the South African subsidiaries of French arms manufacturer Thales International (formerly Thomson-CFS).
Meanwhile, about 5 000 people arrived at the Zamdela Stadium, near Sasolburg in the Free State, on Wednesday to support Zuma.
ANC regional secretary Victor Radebe said the march would proceed from the stadium to the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court.
Speakers, including ANC Free State chairperson Ace Magashule, were expected to address the crowd before marching to the court.
Cosatu, the South African Communist Party and the South African National Civic Organisation in the Free State were taking part in the march.
The march was also attended by churches and the Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans’ Association. — Sapa