By Carol Paton 

Tomorrow SA will be able to read the usual ANC Letter from the President – available on its website and emailed to subscribers. This time however, the letter will have a different author: probably Jacob Zuma.

But unlike his predecessor Thabo Mbeki who quite often used the Letter to pursue his own political vendettas, Zuma plans to be more of a democrat

After the first one, a different member of the ANC will be given the opportunity to write the letter each week.

By Thebe Mabanga 

Newly elected ANC president Jacob Zuma was defiant on the possibility of being charged by the National Prosecuting Authority; insisted that the ANC government has had success in resolving the Zimbabwe crisis and proved reticent on a range of key appointments. 

 Addressing the media for the first time as the party’s president, Zuma answered questions about the possibility of being charged over corruption, arguing that there are no charges yet and any answer will be guess work.  

This morning, acting director of public prosecution Mokotedi Mpshe told a Talk Radio 702 that he was ready to charge Zuma on corruption and fraud. 

Wading in to his defence, new treasurer general Matthews Phosa said it was “not fair” that Mpshe’s announced his intention through a radio station rather than put the charges to Zuma. Zuma would only say that he “would cross that bridge when I get to it”.  

Asked what he thought of the economic crisis in Zimbabwe and what he would do differently, Zuma defended President Thabo Mbeki’s record of quiet diplomacy, saying “We achieved something. it is a fact” without outlining what has been achieved. 

Zuma also refused to be drawn on what would happen to appointments like those of head of presidency Smuts Ngonyama, and key parliamentary caucus appointment, most notably political committee chairman Mosioua Lekota, his nemesis in the weeks leading up to the conference.

He merely suggested that Ngonyama will continue in his role without being firm and pointed out that Lekota chaired the political committee by virtue of being in the top six.

That logic suggests that Lekota will be replaced by speaker of parliament and new national chairman Baleka Mbete, the only top six official currently in parliament.

By Carol Paton 

Newly elected ANC President Jacob Zuma says he thinks that Trevor Manuel has done a good job but could not comment on his future because as ANC President he is not in the business of appointing or removing ministers.

“I think he has a track record that is very good in addressing issues of fiscal discipline. He has helped us a great deal…(but) why should I be thinking of removing a minister. That is the job of the president of the country,” he said.

But Zuma refused to comment on the fact that when his supporters went to the polls yesterday to elect the new national executive they carried with them an agreed-upon list which excluded Manuel and all the other economic ministers serving in the Cabinet.

 “That question is problematic. This conference was about electing the NEC – I don’t think I need to answer that,” he said. The results of the NEC election will be known later tonight.Zuma also stressed that he could not as ANC President dictate economic or any other policy as this is set by the ANC. However, he hopes to introduce more consultation over policy issues with the ANC’s allies, the SACP and Cosatu.  “Interaction with theAlliance has always been there. But we will go into more details on the issues they are raising. There are issues they say they want to address so we are going to do that.”

Issues raised by the allies for reconsideration include the fiscal surplus and inflation targeting.

By Prakash Naidoo

It was a speech marked by a tone of conciliation and reassurance, intended from the beginning to signal the intent to heal and unify.

ANC President Jacob Zuma made his maiden speech to a warm and receptive  audience, calling his political adversary, President Thabo Mbeki “a comrade, friend and brother” and later in the speech, “indeed my leader”.

Mebki was seated in the front corner of the conference marquee, and for most part sat impassively, even when the animated praise singer welcomed Zuma before he started speaking.

But Zuma’s attempts to be gracious to Mbeki were warmly received by the crowd.

“I must confess I never thought that the two of us would one day compete for the same position in the ANC. However, contesting positions does not make us enemies,” said Zuma, to loud applause.

He also reassured members who may be anxious about the there being two presidents – one of state and other of party.

“There is no reason for uncertainty or fear in any quarter. Comrade Mbeki and I, both as members of the ANC first and foremost will develop smooth working relations between government and the ruling party, assisted by the leadership collective,” said Zuma

He was especially pointed in his remarks that ANC policy will not change under his presidency, telling the domestic and international business community that they had nothing to be “uneasy” about. “I tried to calm these fears before the conference during my meetings with various business groupings at home and abroad. Our (conference) resolutions on economic matters will bring about closure and certainty on these matters”.

In his speech, in parts halting and often with long pauses, Zuma also touched on the issues of crime, calling it a “counter-revolutionary force”, and the fight against HIV/Aids.

 He proposed that old-style street committees be revived as one of the means of facilitating crime prevention strategies. “If we were able to defeat vigilantism and the apartheid system, what can stop us from defeating this ugly factor that has tainted our democracy?” asked Zuma.

He returned to issues plaguing the ANC and the incidents that marked the first day of the conference five days ago – where defiant delegates seemed intent on undermining pro-Mbeki leaders – saying they were indicative of internal problems “that need to be sorted out without delay”.

And in what appeared to be an oblique remark directed at Mbeki, the new ANC president warned: “A lesson we have leant from this conference is that if the leadership fails to resolve issues, or to grasp the feelings of membership on issues that concern the movement and instead appears to perpetuate the problems, the membership takes over and assert its authority in ways that we may not be comfortable with”.

He closed in much the same tone that he started with – reaching out to his adversaries, with a call for unity. “We cannot have a Zuma camp or an Mbeki camp. There is only one ANC. None among us is above the organisation or bigger than the ANC”.

When he finished, he immediately led the 4000-strong conference into songs celebrating the ANC and in praise of its iconic former president, Oliver Tambo. But as he took his seat, die-hard Zuma-ites at the front of the conference tent burst into song of the now famous anthem, Mshini Wam. Within seconds almost every delegate was singing it, and to the delight of his followers, Zuma returned to the microphone and led the singing with gusto in his now trade-mark style.

Zuma is currently taking questions in his first press conference with journalists here.

By Prakash Naidoo 

The ANC is expected to ratify significant changes to its constitution today to accommodate a number of the policy decisions that have been adopted at its national conference this week. 

The two most important amendments deal with expanding the ANC’s national executive committee from 60 to 80 members, and the much debated issue of gender parity known as the 50/50 principle. 

The conference has also approved the formation of a Veteran’s League, similar to the youth and women’s leagues. Members with 40 years unbroken service and who are 60 years and over will be able to join. The new league will have similar voting rights at the national conference as the other two leagues, but the exact bloc of votes will be determined by the NEC. 

Another amendment relates to the clause which deals with the dissolution of the ANC. As things stand, the party’s constitution says the ANC can be dissolved by a two-thirds majority. This clause has been strengthened, where it now requires a 12-month notice period to be given and the threshold has been increased to a 75% majority for the motion to be carried.

By Carol Paton

Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa has withdrawn his candidacy for the ANC’s national executive committee because “I decided that this is an NEC that I don’t want to be part of.” Shilowa said that it was not that he didn’t accept the legitimacy of the new NEC, but that certain events in the nomination process on the conference floor last night had made up his mind for him.

These were the facts that the newly elected officials of the ANC – particularly the new Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe – had ignored certain irregularities in the process. 

According to the ANC constitution there are two ways in which nominations for the NEC are made. The first is through provincial nominations, a process which occurred three weeks before the conference. The second is through nominations from the floor. The latter process took place last night.  

 In terms of the rules, when additional nominations are made from the floor a maximum of two people can be nominated from each province. But last night, two additional candidates claimed to be from Mpumalanga and Limpopo respectively when in fact they are members in Gauteng and a third from Gauteng was unable to say where he was a member.  

Although Motlanthe and Mantashe knew the above to untrue, Shilowa says they did nothing to correct the fraud. “I would have left my name on the ballot and waited for the results. But when the leadership sitting up there knows (these things) and says nothing, it’s shocking,” he said. 

However, Shilowa says that the straw that broke the camel’s back and finally made his mind up was when the CD playing liberation songs in the background was on several occasions interrupted by the a recording of the Zuma anthem Awulethu Umshini Wam’.  “I decided I didn’t want to be a part of this NEC and I withdrew.” 

However, critics of Shilowa from the Zuma camp said that the Gauteng premier had withdrawn himself from the ballot because his province had indicated that they did not support his nomination and would not be voting for him.

By Carol Paton 

Elections for the ANC national executive committee are underway with many predicting a clean sweep for the Zuma camp here as well.

If Zuma supporters vote as a block – as they did in the election for the Top 6 – none of SA’s economic ministers will make it onto the committee. Missing from the list being handed to Zuma supporters to inform their voting are Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, his deputy Jabu Moleketi, Trade & Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa; and Public Enterprises minister Alec Erwin. All are firm supporters of former ANC President Thabo Mbeki.

Other heavy hitters who Zuma fans will not be voting for are government head of policy Joel Netshitenzhe and 20 out of 26 of Mbeki’s cabinet ministers. Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa was this afternoon said to have withdrawn his nomination for the NEC.

The only serving cabinet ministers who appear on the Zuma list are: Minister of Arts and Culture, Pallo Jordan; Minister of Housing, Lindiwe Sisulu; Minister of Social Development, Zola Skweyiya and foreign affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

However should the Zuma camp not vote as a bloc, Manuel, Netshitenzhe and others could still be voted on.

The results of the voting are to be announced at the close of the conference tomorrow midday. Mbeki supporters are still scratching their heads over how they were so thoroughly trounced in the elections for the Top 6. While the writing has been on the wall since the provincial nominations process ended on November 26, die-hard Mbeki-ites did not see last night’s defeat coming.

Smuts Ngonyama said that numbers given to them by people in the provinces before the voting indicated Mbeki would win. Similarly cabinet ministers Essop Pahad and Ronnie Kasrils were genuinely confident yesterday afternoon telling close colleagues and friends that Mbeki’s victory was in the bag.

Thebe Mabanga  

The ANC’s left wing alliance partners and the youth league basked in the victory of their man Jacob Zuma with a call for unity, but the youth league was unable to resist the temptation to mock one of the architects of President Thabo Mbeki’s failed campaign, Mluleki George. 

At its press briefing, the youth league hailed Zuma’s victory as “a reflection of the will of people” and an opportunity to root out pettiness form within the party - a reference to the last year and a half of Mbeki’s rule.  

The league’s display was two-faced – insisting that there will be no purge of those who voted for the losing camp, but interspersing those comments with jibes that George was like Chemical Ali, a trusted confidant of deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein who famously claimed to be in full control when all about him was falling apart. The league insisted that they will not call for Mbeki’s early resignation as country president. “We are not anarchist”, said Mbalula, who addressed the briefing with spokesperson Zizi Kodwa and secretary general Sihle Zikalala. They denied expectation of any reward for supporting Zuma. 

Mbalula is due to step down as the league’s president next April, and would not be drawn on what he might do next. He is widely expected to be rewarded with a parliamentary or even cabinet post for delivering the youth league support for Zuma, much the same way as his predecessor Malusi Gigaba was rewarded with the deputy minister of housing post for delivering the league to Mbeki 10 years ago. 

At this conference, there is wild speculation ranging from ministerial appointments to a premiership.  “We made president Mbeki and we removed him”, said Mbalula, asserting the league’s status as kingmaker. 

The SA Communist Party and Congress of SA Trade Unions were more diplomatic in their approach, albeit with a subtle sting. SACP secretary general Blade Nzimande described recent inter alliance relations as being “marked by recriminations and stand offs”, but said the election of new leadership should be used as an opportunity to address with urgency the challenges of unemployment, poverty and deepening inequality. “This is not a moment for triumphalism” he said “[That] will simply plunge us into another cycle of inward looking manoeuvring”. 

Adding Cosatu’s voice of support, Zwelinzima Vavi emphasised that he had no expectation of personal reward, hence his decision to decline nomination to the National Executive Committee. Both acknowledged that they expect a kinder ear from Luthuli House, but do not expect a wholesale adoption of their policy positions on matters such as inflation targeting, to which they are opposed or the extension of a social grant.

By Prakash Naidoo

The ANC’s Electoral Commission today dismissed rumours circulating at the conference since Monday that the owners of The Elexions Agency, which is handling the election of the new ANC leadership, has ties to Zuma adviser Mo Shaik and various other people and that it has been set up specifically to fix the election results.

A text message sent to a number of delegates and journalists on Monday read, in part, that “a company owned by Mo Shaik which was registered 19 days ago was contracted by the secretary general, Kgalema Motlanthe to run ANC Conference accreditation, printing of ballots & their security”.

“An SMS to your friends is not the correct way to raise complaints in the ANC,” said the commission’s chairperson, Bertha Gxowa in the statement. “Any delegate who feels that any part of our process robbed them of their democratic rights should please come forward immediately and approach the Commission”.

Gxowa said the Electoral Commission was given full discretion to appoint any agents to run the practical part of these elections and approached Drenee Nupen, Bontle Mpakanyane and Thobile Thomas because they have done it since 1991.

Since they are regularly approached by most provinces to run elections for the ANC, SACP and Cosatu, they decided to a company specifically to focus on running elections, which was registered in the last few weeks.

“We have been assured that the only directors or shareholders in this company are the three people mentioned above, as can easily be checked with the Registrar of Companies,” said Gxoma. “The Agency has been transparent about the process around the setting up of the elections company to the Commission and we remain confident that they are absolutely neutral and professional”.

In separate press reports yesterday, Mo Shaik has vehemently denied any links with the company in charge of the voting process said he planned to complain to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the umbrella body for The Elexions Agency, about the rumours.

By Prakash Naidoo

After a night of jubilant celebration by Jacob Zuma’s supporters, party-weary delegates started the fourth day of the ANC’s national conference in various commissions that will formulate policy for the next five years.

However a much-anticipated press conference by the new ANC president was cancelled at the last moment after it emerged that the new leadership, which met informally late last night, had decided that Zuma ought to speak to party members first before addressing the nation.

Zuma will now speak for the first time as ANC president when he delivers the closing address to the conference tomorrow.

Many of the local and international news agencies working out of the media centre here at the conference centre said they had planned to carry the press conference live on their radio stations.

“There a very keen interest in this story back home,” said one Europe-based journalist. “We would have carried it live on the radio stations, but I guess we can wait until tomorrow”.

This latest slight against the media comes at a time when journalists are still smarting from the appalling facilities and treatment they encountered at the conference venue.

On Tuesday, several journalists and photographers were physically manhandled by ANC security personnel, where expensive camera equipment was damaged. On Monday, journalists were told to arrive at the conference venue for the open sessions, only to be turned away by over-zealous marshals.

Adding to the indignity, no seating was provided for journalists in the conference tent and those attending the opening session had to crouch on the floor in front of the stage. The stand-off turned particularly nasty when two photographers outside the voting station yesterday were “attacked” by an irate finance minister, Trevor Manuel, brandishing an umbrella.

Conditions had deteriorated to such an extent that the SA Editors’ Forum dispatched an outraged letter of protest to the ANC’s Smuts Ngonyama, deploring the shabby facilities and inadequate arrangements for the media.

“Sanef wishes to remind the ANC that proper media coverage of this critical event, the importance of which goes way beyond the ANC and its internal dynamics and strife, should be a priority for the governing party,” the letter read.

This morning Sanef said Ngonyama had issued an apology for the “boorish behaviour”.