The African National Congress (ANC) yesterday assumed control of the Jacob Zuma crisis, with many of Zuma’s supporters agreeing to support the party’s proposed process.

Following an alliance secretariat meeting, the South African Communist Party (SACP) and Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) agreed to give the ANC leadership room to sell last week’s national executive committee (NEC) decision to party members.

“The alliance expressed appreciation of the fact that the ANC was exercising a leadership role towards the resolution of these issues. It was agreed that this process must be given support by all alliance partners,” said a statement.

All alliance meetings scheduled to discuss the Zuma matters would now be suspended, until the NEC process has been completed.

Alliance leaders also committed themselves to lower the tension heading into Zuma’s court appearance next month.

In another sign that the ANC was intervening to lower the temperature, the so-called Progressive Youth Alliance added their voices in support of the NEC-sanctioned process.

“We have called for the leadership’s guidance on (the Zuma) matter, now that it is being provided, we therefore call on all our structures to give this process a due chance,” said the group’s statement last night.

The Progressive Youth Alliance is made up of youth groups including the ANC Youth League, the Young Communist League, and SA Students’ Congress, all of whom have been vocal in their support of Zuma.

But Zuma can count on the support of his backers in Cosatu and other organisations when he appears in court on October 11. The alliance secretariat agreed that members could go to court in support of Zuma.

Such “activities in solidarity” however, would have to promote the unity of the alliance and demonstrate respect for the entire leadership, the statement said.

This followed calls this week by Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi for anti-President Thabo Mbeki songs and slogans to stop.

Last weekend’s meeting of the ruling party’s NEC decided that Mbeki and Zuma would lead the process to manage the fallout from Mbeki’s sacking of Zuma.

The decision is currently being taken to the ANC’s rank-and-file in the provinces and local branches. The process will culminate in a special NEC meeting being held later this month.

The involvement of grassroots members is meant to foster ownership of whatever decisions made regarding Zuma’s future, following the embarrassing rejection of his suspension by the party leadership by the national general council in July.

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