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South Africa: Mbeki Admits Mistakes, Plans Fightback

16 December 2007

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staff blog

South Africans woke on Sunday morning to read what appeared to be President Thabo Mbeki's strategy for a fightback to try, against the odds, to secure his re-election as leader of the ruling African National Congress.

The Johannesburg Sunday paper, City Press - which usually reports with particular authority on the ANC - reported that it was granted an exclusive interview with Mbeki on Friday, in which he admitted to making a mistake in his leadership of the party.

...Mbeki said he had not spoken to the membership of his organisation sufficiently about developments within the party, particularly those involving his deputy, Jacob Zuma.

And the paper reported:

... [H]e plans to correct it this morning when he delivers his much-anticipated political overview, which will cover both the state of the nation and his party.

Quoting Mbeki directly, he continued:

"One of the things that must happen in Polokwane is that, as president of the ANC, I have to tell these members to correct this mistake that I am saying I have committed by talking directly and truthfully to the membership of the ANC about what has happened," he said.

"I believe it has to be my duty to tell them truthfully, in the presence of everybody, and let anybody else stand up and challenge it."

THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST SUNDAY NEWSPAPER, the Sunday Times, focussed on Jacob Zuma, who - unless Mbeki can secure a turnaround - stands on verge of being elected in Mbeki's place.

The Times chose to focus on the corruption charges hanging over Zuma's head, and to highlight his statement - in the BBC World interview referred to on this blog yesterday - that even if he was charged, he would not step down from the party leadership. The Times quoted him:

Why should I step down? You know what would that mean, if there were charges and I stepped down? It would mean that I plead guilty before even going to court...

What would be the logic of it? I see no logic in it. The day, if I am taken to court, that the Judge says: 'Zuma, we find you guilty', as I walk out of court I will say to the ANC I am stepping down, I have been found guilty.

THIS BLOG YESTERDAY referred to indications that the outcome of the presidential vote would not emerge until much later in the week. It seems we were wrong: an ANC spokesman has told the Eastern Province Herald that

...voting for the top six positions would start late on Sunday evening or early the next morning, with the result announced later that day.

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