Former president Jacob Zuma. (Phil Magakoe/Reuters)
Former president Jacob Zuma has thrown his hat into the ANC leadership contest ring by telling party branches on Monday evening that he was available for the position of national chairperson of the governing party.
Zuma also made clear his position on the leadership race by endorsing his ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as party president.
In a four-page letter dated 26 September, Zuma said he had been in consultation with leaders of the ANC who had sought his views on the conference and what needed to be done to rebuild the ANC.
The party veteran said he had not shifted from the position he had taken in 2017.
In what could be viewed as a jab at ANC presidency contender Zweli Mkhize, Zuma said he found it strange that the majority of contenders being discussed were those who had supported President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 2017 Nasrec conference.
“The candidate that we supported in 2017 (Dlamini-Zuma) at the 54th national conference remains the most capable to lead the ANC, given her track record in the movement and government, leadership capabilities and qualities and her understanding and knowledge of the ANC, amongst others.
“I have heard some few comrades raising some issues with regards to her, but unfortunately they all failed to present a better candidate with better credentials than hers except those who have a lot of money.”
The former president also repeated allegations of votes being bought at the Nasrec conference, saying delegates there had been “overwhelmed by a lot of money” instead of being guided by political conscience.
“[This] led to the significant drop in the national election in 2019 and dismal performance in the metropolitan municipalities and some of the strategic municipalities,” he said.
Zuma’s letter is well timed as branches are still deliberating on who should lead the party. The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal – Zuma’s home province where he still enjoys support – is expected to make its pronouncement in support of Mkhize on Tuesday morning.
Zuma’s endorsement of Dlamini-Zuma could solidify support for her among branches and regions where he has backing.
The Mail & Guardian recently reported that Mkhize had already received endorsements from regions that previously supported Dlamini-Zuma. These included eThekwini, Musa Dladla, Mzala Nxumalo, Jozini sub-region and possibly the Lower South Coast.
Confirming he was available for national chairperson, Zuma said he had been approached by a number of cadres to make himself available for the position to contribute to the rebuilding of the organisation and to provide direction.
“I have indicated that I will be guided by the branches of the ANC and that I will not refuse such a call, should they deem it necessary for me to serve the organisation again, at that level or any other.”
Eighty-year-old Zuma – his legal team in the arms deal graft case having consistently cited a serious but unnamed “medical condition” – is on medical parole after serving just short of two months of a 15-month prison sentence on contempt of court charges. This was for failing to adhere to a constitutional court order that he appear before the state capture commission. The supreme court of appeal last month heard Zuma’s appeal against the high court ruling made in December that his medical parole was invalid and unconstitutional. Judgment was reserved.
Zuma said in his letter: “Comrades, we reiterate the call made in previous ANC national conferences for branches to be given space to do their work without being coerced or manipulated and without the use of money to influence nominations and votes. We need to revive the ANC of old, where branches nominated and selected people based on the requirements of the organisation at that particular period or epoch, rather than resources at their disposal.”
It has been alleged that in the lead-up to the Nasrec conference, Ramaphosa and his CR17 campaign team used close to R1-billion to ensure his success.
The CR17 banking records were sealed from public access by the Pretoria high court. This is after Ramaphosa sought to review and set aside public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s Bosasa report, which found he had misled parliament about a donation and that he had a duty to disclose donors.
Zuma also called for younger leaders to be more active in political debate. He said during his terms, he had appointed a number of younger leaders as cabinet ministers and deputy ministers, and thus led by example.
Zuma also said that the inclusion of young leaders was necessary to develop a pool of talent that could take the movement and government forward by implementing the progressive policies of the ANC.
Some of those young leaders appointed by Zuma during his two terms as ANC and state president – such as Malusi Gigaba – have been implicated in allegations of corruption via the state capture commission.
Gigaba was once considered a future president of the party. One of his most ardent supporters, Andile Lungisa, is running for treasurer general despite a recent suspension from the party.
“The younger leaders need to conduct an introspection and ask themselves what they have achieved in the various areas which would warrant the call for a generational takeover rather than a generational mix,” said Zuma in his letter.
He blamed the current ANC leadership for the electoral losses the party suffered in the 2021 local elections. In KwaZulu-Natal, the party lost some of its key municipalities to the Inkatha Freedom Party, while in Gauteng the ANC was unable to regain the three metros from the Democratic Alliance-led coalition.
“Comrades, let’s return the ANC to its rightful owners. The upcoming conference provides an opportunity for the ANC to be returned to its rightful owners, the membership, and to extricate it from the invisible but powerful forces that use it to entrench privilege and protect the status quo domestically and globally.
“These forces are determined to keep the black majority economically subjugated to protect their ill-gotten gains. A stronger and united ANC is a serious threat to their hegemony,” he said.
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