Discussion on cards

ANC Deputy Secretary-General Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele has shed no light on the exact role of beleaguered party Deputy President Jacob Zuma on the ANC campaign trail, saying only that it would be discussed between him and the party's secretary-general.

She confirmed that Zuma would be attending the ANC's launch of its local government election campaign in Cape Town on Sunday. She also confirmed that Zuma would be participating in the ANC electioneering campaign. This despite the ANC's extended national working committee decision last month preventing Zuma from pronouncing on its behalf, participating in its activities or speaking in his capacity as its deputy president until the courts cleared him of the rape charge he faces.

Zuma is expected to appear in court on that charge on February 13. He is out on R20 000 bail. He is also due back in court on July 31 where he faces charges of corruption. Mthembi-Mahanyele denied the ANC was contradicting itself by allowing Zuma to campaign for the party for the local government elections.

"I don't think there's any contradiction on the ANC's view of comrade Jacob Zuma's participation in the local government elections . . . when there is an election campaign all members of the ANC, whether you are an official or not an official, you have to participate in the election . . . so comrade Jacob Zuma will be participating in the elections because he is a member of the ANC."

Mthembi-Mahanyele declined to give any details of the exact role Zuma would be playing in the campaign trail except to say "that discussion will take place between himself and the secretary-general . . ." However, ANC Secretary-General Kgalema Motlanthe told The Mercury earlier this week that Zuma would participate in the campaign in his capacity as a member of the ANC, but would do so under stringent conditions. Zuma would, among other things, have to foot his travel and hotel bills and would not be allowed to speak on behalf of the party in any of the election rallies.

Constraints

Mthembi-Mahanyele said she was not in a position to give details of who was paying for Zuma's ticket to attend Sunday's launch. She also denied that Zuma would be reigned in by the party on his as yet unspecified participation in the campaign trail.

"I think it would be a mistake to talk about him being circumscribed to participate within certain constraints. I don't think that's the issue because we are bringing in an element that is not relevant to the issue because if we do, it means we are refusing to accept the fact that he needs time to prepare for the oncoming trial . . . so we are not circumscribing him or rationing him in terms of what he can do or say."

The local government elections take place on March 1.

With acknowledgements to Linda Daniels and The Mercury.