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.