The corruption trial of former deputy president Jacob Zuma could claim another political casualty if plans to unseat KwaZulu-Natal African National Congress (ANC) chairman S’bu Ndebele succeed.

Ndebele, also provincial premier, has grown increasingly unpopular in the province following Zuma’s sacking from the cabinet in June.

Sources in the province say the embattled Ndebele can no longer do his work, either as premier or as ANC chairman.

Ndebele has at least twice been pelted, booed and shouted down at recent provincial ANC gatherings. The latest incident occurred at last week’s all-night vigil on the eve of Zuma’s court appearance.

Disgruntled ANC regions and branches have secretly called for a special provincial conference to rid the ANC of Ndebele’s leadership, only five months after his re-election. The ANC constitution allows a special conference if requested by at least a third of branches.

Sources said members in at least five of the ANC’s 11 regions wanted popular deputy chairman Zweli Mkhize, the province’s finance and economic development MEC, to replace Ndebele as ANC leader.

The latest moves against Ndebele come after months of declining popularity following Zuma’s sacking by President Thabo Mbeki. Ndebele, viewed as Mbeki’s man in the province, called last year for Mbeki to remain ANC president beyond 2007, when his current term expires.

Mkhize, on the other hand, has traditionally been close to Zuma. He also maintains good relations with the ANC’s left-wing allies in the provincial Congress of South African Trade Unions and South African Communist Party.

The anti-Ndebele feeling also comes as evidence mounts of a backlash against Mbeki in the provinces, with at least five Mbeki-appointed premiers fighting rearguard battles against their provincial executive committees.

Gauteng’s Mbhazima Shilowa, Western Cape’s Ebrahim Rasool, Free State’s Beatrice Marshoff and Eastern Cape’s Nosimo Balindlela all face hostile provincial branches and members because of their perceived closeness to Mbeki.

A senior tripartite alliance figure said Ndebele had recently been weakened by his loss of support from his last remaining stronghold, the ANC’s powerful Ethekwini Metro region.

“The only place where S’bu still has some support is the Pietermaritzburg region, and even they are divided down the middle,” he said.

ANC and alliance leaders in the province and nationally are now worried that the moves against Ndebele could undo a nonaggression pact agreed with Mkhize.

Mkhize agreed early this year not to challenge Ndebele for the provincial chairmanship at the last KwaZulu-Natal ANC conference. The truce was called in order to stabilise the party and consolidate ANC power in the province after 10 years of Inkatha Freedom Party rule.

ANC provincial spokesman Mtholephi Mthumkhulu said the party was still united behind Ndebele.

ANC national spokesman Smuts Ngonyama said Ndebele’s growing unpopularity was a result of members “personalising” ANC decisions.

Ndebele did not responded to requests for comment.

ANC leaders are likely to tackle the conflict between Mbeki and Zuma at the party’s national working committee today.

With acknowledgements to Vukani Mde, Linda Ensor and the Business Day.