Publication: Sunday Times Issued: Date: 2005-10-16 Reporter: Brendan Boyle Reporter:

Mandela On Hand for Zuma Crisis

 

Publication 

Sunday Times

Date

2005-10-16

Reporter

Brendan Boyle

Web Link

www.sundaytimes.co.za

 

Former President Nelson Mandela is on standby to help as the crisis triggered by former Deputy President Jacob Zuma’s prosecution continues to escalate within the ANC’s ranks.

Mandela, who returned late on Friday from a trip to Nairobi, Kenya, with his wife, Graça Machel, is worried that the Zuma debacle is dividing the ANC.

His spokesman, Zelda la Grange, told the Sunday Times: “Yes, Madiba is concerned.”

She said he was getting regular briefings from ANC secretary- general Kgalema Motlanthe and added: “Madiba will remain available to the leadership structure to play a role in reaching the goals ... for a unified organisation if he is asked to do so.”

Friend and adviser Jakes Gerwel confirmed Mandela’s concern about tensions in the movement, but added: “My advice and the advice of his wife would certainly not be to get involved.”

ANC officials, including Smuts Ngonyama, head of President Thabo Mbeki’s party office, said they were in the dark about talks between Mbeki and Zuma to chart a way forward.

Ngonyama said ANC leaders wanted a report-back as soon as possible, and were hoping for a briefing from the two leaders at Monday’s scheduled meeting of the ANC’s national working committee.

Asked whether Mbeki and Zuma would both attend, he said: “We have received no apologies.”

La Grange said Mandela was anxious to see the implementation of the national executive committee’s September 9 agreement, delegating the resolution of tensions directly to Zuma and Mbeki.

•  Zuma has, meanwhile, asked the state to pay the legal costs of his corruption trial, presidential spokesman David Hlabane confirmed yesterday.

This is in line with a decision taken by the tripartite alliance earlier this year urging Zuma to make the request for state funding, as the alleged corruption occurred while he was employed by the government.

With acknowledgements to Brendan Boyle and the Sunday Times.