By putting Thoko Didiza in charge of the Department of Public Works, President Thabo Mbeki elevated it from the portfolio where ministers go to retire, to one that is central in job creation and development. This was accentuated even further after the recent Cabinet lekgotla.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has launched a stinging attack on President Thabo Mbeki that appears to reiterate what was contained in the hard-hitting South African Communist Party discussion document released last week. On Thursday Cosatu said it was primarily concerned that the ANC leadership was "drifting towards dictatorship".
Temperatures are rising within the tripartite alliance and the government over allegations that African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma received a multimillion-rand donation from Libyan leader Moammar Gadaffi during his recent trip to that country. Two sources in the ANC-led alliance claimed this week to have knowledge that money was donated to help Zuma.
A task team appointed by the African National Congress to probe the authenticity of the alleged ”hoax e-mails” began its investigation from Luthuli House quietly this week. It has been received with mixed responses from senior party members, and is likely either to worsen tensions in the ruling party or be used as a trouble-shooting mechanism to neutralise fractures in the ANC.
The African National Congress e-mail spy saga has widened the ugly developing rift between President Thabo Mbeki and the party’s secretary general, Kgalema Motlanthe. The differences over the authenticity of the e-mails are seen as a microcosm of a new struggle between the two.
The National Intelligence Agency became embroiled in a rogue investigation involving the illegal interception of the communications of more than 13 highly placed individuals, an investigation by the inspector general (IG) of intelligence has found. The report was released in edited form on Thursday.
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/ 25 November 2005
The Congress of South African Trade Union has qualified its support for African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma pending the outcome of the rape allegations against him. Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has said that they would review their support for Zuma if the rape matter went to court.
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/ 25 November 2005
<a href="http://www.mg.co.za/specialreport.aspx?area=zuma_report"><img src="http://www.mg.co.za/ContentImages/243078/zuma.jpg" align=left border=0></a>The police forensic laboratory in Pretoria that is testing DNA samples obtained from the complainant in the rape claim against African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma is being heavily guarded to ensure that crucial evidence is not tampered with or the results leaked.
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/ 18 November 2005
Intrigue at the highest level of the government, including an extraordinary political ambush and counter-ambush, has been disclosed in court documents lodged by suspended National Intelligence Agency director general Billy Masetlha. Masetlha is attempting a high court challenge to his axing last month by Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils.
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/ 18 November 2005
Rape allegations against African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma appear to have been deliberately leaked in a bid to increase the pressure on Zuma ahead of this weekend’s crucial ANC national executive committee meeting. However, no evidence has come to light to suggest the allegations themselves were manufactured. Zuma, through his attorney, has categorically denied the charge.