SAfrica: ANC rejects guidance of split leadership

Johannesburg, Apr 26: South Africa's ruling African National Congress said today it was confident of avoiding any ugly split in what looks set to be a hotly contested leadership race to succeed President Thabo Mbeki.

The ANC, which has held power since the country's first all-race elections in 1994, has been racked by dissension since 2005 when Mbeki fired Deputy President Jacob Zuma over a corruption scandal.

Zuma has suggested he will run for the ANC's top job at a December party conference and the country's presidency, triggering media suggestions this could cause a bitter debate and possible split. He still holds the ANC's deputy leadership.

The sacking of Zuma enraged his supporters in the powerful trade unions and ANC rank-and-file who have accused Mbeki and other senior party leaders of a conspiracy to block the Zulu politician's presidential ambitions.

The friction between the Zuma and Mbeki camps has prompted fears of turmoil when about 5,000 delegates meet at the December 15-20 conference to choose a new leader and decide the future direction of government policy.

''We believe absolutely that there is no crisis,'' ANC spokesman Smuts Ngonyama told reporters at a briefing at the party's headquarters in Johannesburg.

He said the party expected a ''robust debate and discussion''.

Politician-turned-tycoon Tokyo Sexwale and former union leader Cyril Ramaphosa, now a successful businessman, have also been tipped as possible candidates to replace Mbeki as ANC leader.

Zuma suffered extensive political damage from separate rape and corruption trials last year.

The corruption case against Zuma over an arms procurement deal involving a French firm collapsed. The 65-year-old politician was acquitted of raping a family friend.

But prosecutors have said they intend to reinstate the arms-related bribery and fraud charges against Zuma, raising the possibility he could be on trial or even in jail when the ANC conference begins.

Some analysts say Zuma's legal problems and the political vulnerabilities of other potential candidates could tempt Mbeki to seek another term as ANC leader, keeping a grip on the party while a compromise candidate assumes the national presidency.

Mbeki cannot run for a third term as president but can run again for the party leadership, and die-hard supporters want him to retain that kingmaker's role.

Reuters
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