KZN ANC won’t interfere in president’s decision on his former deputy

President Thabo Mbeki has the right to appoint, and he has the right to “disappoint”, says ANC provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu.

Mchunu made this apparent slip of the tongue on Monday while fielding media questions regarding Tuesday’s court appearance by ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

The ANC secretary was flanked by representatives of the Congress of SA Trade Unions, the ANC Youth League and the SA National Civic Organisation, who promised their support for Zuma at the court.

Zuma faces two corruption charges and French arms manufacturer Thint is the co-accused.

Presumably, by “disappoint”, Mchunu meant “fire”. He was explaining why the KwaZulu-Natal ANC will not ask Mbeki to re-instate Zuma as the country’s deputy president and said it is the president’s prerogative to appoint whoever he wants.

Furthermore, according to Mchunu, Zuma never voiced any ambition to lead the country. The wording of Zuma’s affidavit should, therefore, be understood to mean he did not want anything to stand in the way if ANC branches chose to nominate him, Mchunu claimed.

The KwaZulu-Natal ANC nevertheless still plans to nominate Zuma as ANC leader at the ruling party’s national conference, which will be held at the end of next year.

“It is another round for the deputy president and we will be there to show our support,” Mchunu said about today’s court appearance.

Regarding Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s belief that Zuma should not run for the presidency, he said Tutu has the right to voice his opinion, but the KwaZulu-Natal ANC executive is standing by its decision last year to nominate Zuma as ANC president.

Mchunu denied that Zuma supporters were conducting a presidential campaign from the Pietermaritzburg courthouse steps, despite plans to have the former deputy president address supporters after today’s court proceedings.

“It is a strange claim to make. No ANC leader in history has ever had to campaign from the courthouse steps. Jacob Zuma has a case. He is going to court. He has no choice in the matter,” Mchunu pointed out.

“Therefore, this cannot be a campaign by Zuma. The [ANC] deputy president is going through a difficult time, which is painful to the ANC, and he will not be deserted by the ANC.”

When questioned on whether Zuma should stand for president given what was common cause during his rape trial, Mchunu said: “Why not?”

“We have not tabulated his credentials yet, but he has credentials. Bishop Tutu did not say Zuma does not have what it takes. He merely said he should not contest the presidency. The bishop’s very words show that Zuma is a contender.”

With acknowledgements to Jan-Jan Joubert and The Witness.