African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Jacob Zuma last night gave SA a rare insight into his thoughts on economic issues — and they may come as a surprise to his left backers in the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party (SACP).

Zuma, speaking on an SABC radio chat show, also denied there was a policy crisis in the ANC.

Zuma is at the centre of a succession struggle that pits a conservative faction, said to support President Thabo Mbeki, in the ANC against the left in the party and its allies. The allied organisations have for years been at odds with ANC economic policy under Mbeki, and have complained about being marginalised in policy formulation.

In his interview, Zuma, however, endorsed government’s management of the economy and said he supported a strong rand, a departure from the views of his key backers in the unions, who argue for a weaker currency.

Zuma’s endorsement of Mbeki’s management of the economy and the country as a whole is in contrast with his recent public statements, in which he rounded on Mbeki’s leadership.

It also became clear that Zuma may not be at one with Cosatu and the SACP on key economic policy questions. Commentators and even senior alliance leaders have said Cosatu and the SACP — who have called Zuma a “friend of the working class” — could not justify their support for Zuma as the former deputy president had never shown any preference for left economic policies.

However, Zuma was unapologetic about his presidential ambitions and the support of his backers in the ANC Youth League.

He said the youth league had always made its succession preferences known.

“When former president Nelson Mandela said he was only serving one term, some people said ‘Mbeki for president’.

“The youth league, then under Peter Mokaba, pronounced itself. There was no problem then.”

Zuma called on his supporters to show greater respect for state institutions and the constitution, after many said the judiciary would not give him a fair trial.

He said he would take SA into his confidence and tell the full story of his corruption trial once the legal process was over.

This could suggest a revival of the controversy around the arms deal.

With acknowledgements to Karima Brown, Vukani Mde and the Business Day.