Publication: The Natal Witness
Issued:
Date: 2005-10-21
Reporter: Noloyiso Mchunu
Reporter:
Reporter:
| Publication |
The Natal Witness
|
| Date |
2005-10-21 |
|
Reporter
|
Noloyiso
Mchunu |
|
Web Link
|
www.witness.co.za
|
Zuma trial has caused turmoil in KZN
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has come clean about the status of its
provincial leadership, admitting for the first time that there is internal
turmoil regarding the rejection of provincial chairman S'bu Ndebele by
supporters of the party's deputy president Jacob Zuma.
The party also
admitted that the provincial executive committee does not yet have a united
stand on whether Zuma is being unfairly treated or not.
Speaking at a
press briefing on the standing of Ndebele as leader of the ANC in the province,
held in Durban on Thursday, ANC provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu said
they are now beginning to
understand the impact Zuma's case has had and are aware of
the unhappiness among members and non-members around the case.
This
follows Ndebele's negative reception by Zuma supporters who booed him when he
tried to address a night vigil outside the Durban Magistrate's Court ahead of
Zuma's appearance on October 11. The seemingly uncontrollable rejection of
Ndebele was first displayed at a public gathering held in kwaMashu in June,
where he was not only booed by Zuma supporters but had stones, bottles and other
objects thrown at him.
Mchunu said: "We do not deny that there has tended
to be a spotlight on him [Ndebele]." He said the party condemns vulgar behaviour
towards leadership but understands that people's actions sprang from their
emotions and perceptions.
"We are fully aware of unhappiness among
membership, we are aware of its impact within the whole organisation," he said,
adding that a perception has been created by the media that Ndebele is close to
party president Thabo Mbeki and KZN deputy chairman Dr Zweli Mkhize is close to
Zuma. He said as far as he knows, Ndebele is close to both Mbeki and
Zuma.
Mchunu said in dealing with the matter they will "analyse" four of
their regions, namely eThekwini, kwaDukuza, Pietermaritzburg and the north
coast, to engage members and intensify explanations at regional and sub-regional
levels. He said the man seen torching a T-shirt with Mbeki's face has been
identified but cannot be named.
Mchunu said of the party's 100 000
provincial membership, only a few dozen are disorderly. He denied that certain
regions are planning to give Ndebele a vote of no confidence. "He is one of the
most settled provincial chairpersons in the country, enjoying full support of
the provincial leadership and regional structures."
With acknowledgements to Noloyiso
Mchunu and The Natal Witness.