The African National Congress (ANC) national working committee resolved to ”become fully involved” in presidential front-runner Jacob Zuma’s graft case, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
”We intend to become fully involved. The ANC sees itself as getting involved in the legal options of the president. The situation of the president is affecting the ANC,” said spokesperson Carl Niehaus.
Asked how the ANC would become involved in his fraud and corruption case, Niehaus replied: ”The rest of it becomes speculation. We are still looking at our options with counsel.”
The national working committee (NWC) held a meeting on Monday to discuss several issues, including the pending case against its presidential candidate in general elections this year.
”It [the discussion] wasn’t really anything beyond what he had said in the course of the last week … we are joining the legal process and we have briefed counsel and we are looking at our options,” said Niehaus.
Last week the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruled in favour of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), in effect re-instating charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering against Zuma.
His legal options now include an appeal to the Constitutional Court and an application for a permanent stay of prosecution.
The NWC also discussed reported tensions between senior ANC leaders and President Kgalema Motlanthe, as well as the latter’s decision to axe chief prosecutor Vusi Pikoli.
The top leadership of the ruling party expressed confidence in Motlanthe.
”The NWC confirmed the ANC’s support for the decision of the President of the republic, Kgalema Motlanthe, regarding the position of the National Director of Public Prosecutions [NDPP],” an ANC statement read.
”The meeting reaffirmed the need to move quickly to finalise this matter in Parliament and ensure that the post is filled.”
Pikoli, the former NDPP, was suspended by former president Thabo Mbeki in September 2007, a move Pikoli had blamed on his refusal to bow to political pressure not to prosecute the now suspended police national commissioner Jackie Selebi.
Motlanthe refused to reinstate Pikoli despite an independent inquiry finding that there was no evidence to suggest he was not fit to hold office.
Pikoli was scheduled to make a presentation to an ad-hoc parliamentary committee probing his dismissal on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Motlanthe’s office will defend his decision to fire Pikoli before the committee will advise MPs on whether to endorse his dismissal.
Meanwhile, the NWC urged that a permanent police national chief be appointed.
Selebi is scheduled to go on trial for corruption amounting to R12-million in April. His contract was extended by a year last June.
”The NWC also urged progress in placing the management of the South African Police Service on a permanent footing capable of giving effective direction to the fight against crime,” the statement read.
The ANC dismissed weekend reports that South African Communist Party secretary general Blade Nzimande was eyeing the position of deputy president of the country after general elections.
Up to now, many believed Motlanthe had been earmarked for that job.
”The NWC rejected any suggestions that ANC national executive committee member Blade Nzimande was involved in any campaign to undermine any individuals within the organisation or government,” the ANC said.
”It warned against those propagating falsehoods, and those giving credence to such rumours,” the statement concluded. – Sapa