/ 10 April 2011

Mkhize says plot to oust Zuma ‘a blue lie’

KwaZulu-Natal ANC chairperson, Zweli Mkhize on Sunday reacted angrily to reports that he and other senior ruling party leaders were plotting to oust President Jacob Zuma.

“It is a blue lie. There is no such a plot. It is the work of information peddlers and they must stop that,” said Mkhize.

He was addressing scores of African National Congress (ANC) supporters during a manifesto launch for the eThekwini region in Adams, outside Amanzimtoti.

The Sunday Independent reported that it had seen a document that allegedly emanated from a covert intelligence investigation into police National Commissioner Bheki Cele.

The 22 page document also claimed that Cele had dumped Zuma in favour of the future leadership of human settlement Minister Tokyo Sexwale, the paper reported.

The newspaper reported that Sexwale led a group that wanted to oust Zuma during an ANC conference next year.

The group was said to include, among others, ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, ANC national treasurer Mathews Phosa, ANC national executive members Fikile Mbalula, Jeff Radebe, Paul Mashatile, David Mabuza, Cassel Mathale, Thandi Modise, Enoch Godongwana, Bathabile Dlamini and Tony Yengeni.

Mkhize said he wished those who had authored the document could be investigated, saying that they had abused their power.

He said there was no way he could be involved in a plot to oust Zuma after having worked for many years to have him elected to the ruling party’s top post.

“There is no way we could plot to remove Zuma. We worked hard for him to be there,” Mkhize said.

The newspaper also reported that the anti-Zuma group met in Escort on January 23, where it plotted to oust him.

Mkhize denied there was such a meeting.

“We were in Escort to talk about the January 8 Statement. The gathering was attended by many people,” said Mkhize.

Discussions on the issue of leadership in the ANC has not started, he said. – Sapa